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A STATIVJB 


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MEMOIRS 


OF 



A NATIVE OF OWHYHEE, 

AND A MEMBER OF THE 

¥ove\g\\ Mission Scliao!^ 


WHO DIED AT 

CORNWALL, CONN. FEB. 17, ISIS, 


AGED 26 YEARS. 



$etB-#alien: 


5N BUSHED BY NATHAN WHITING. 

Agent of the Foreign Mission School 


CONVERSE, PRINTER 

XS1.0. 


V® 





f-3M 

16 IS 


District of Connecticut , ss. 

^■*+*****4* Be it remembered, That on the fifth day of 
| L S I September, in the forty-third year of the Inde- 
j . I Pcndence of the United States of America, Lv- 
*********** man Beecher, and Joseph Harvey, of the • 
said district have deposited in this office, the title of a 
book, the right whereof they claim as proprietors, in tlm 
words following, to wit: 

“ Memoirs of Henry Obookiah, a native of Owbyhee, 
and a Member of the Foreign Mission School; who died 
at Cornwall, Conn. Feb. 17,1818, aged 26 years.” 

In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United 
States, e ntitled, “ An act for the encouragement of learn- 
ing, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, 
to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the 
times therein mentioned ” 

B. T. INGERSOLL, 

Clerk of the District of Connecticut. 

A true copy of Record, examine'd and sealed by me. 

It. I- INGERSOLL, 

* Clerk of the District of Connecticut. 



w»4 
Mv 


I'.- :' 


MEMOIRS 


OP 

\IT5X1VL OBOO&1AEL 


H ENRY OBOOKIAH was a native of 
Owhyhee, the most important of the 
Sandwich Islands. He was horn about the 
year 1792. Ilis parents ranked with the 
common people; .but his mother was dis¬ 
tantly related to the family of the King. 
Her name >vas Kummooolah. The name 
of liis father is unknown. When Obookiah 
was at the age of ten or twelve, both his 
parents were slain before his eyes, “ in a 
war,” to use his ow n language, “ made af¬ 
ter the old King died, to see who should be 
the greatest among them.” The only sur¬ 
viving member of the family, besides him¬ 
self, was an infant brother two or three 
months old. This little brother he hoped 
to save from the fate of his parents, and 
took him upon his hack to flee from the ene¬ 
my ; but was overtaken, and the child cru- 


4 


Memoirs of 

elly destroyed. The circumstances of this 
interesting scene arc so accurately stated in 
a “ Narrative” already before the public, 
that that account will be here transcribed. 
The facts were taken from the relation of 
Obookiah. 

“ Two parties were contending for the 
dominion of the Island. The warriors met, 
and a dreadful slaughter ensued. The 
party to which the father of Obookiah be¬ 
longed was overpowered. The conquerors 
having driven their antagonists from the 
field, next turned their rage upon the vil¬ 
lages and families of the vanquished. The 
alarm was given of their approach. The 
father, taking his wife and two children, 
lied to the mountains. There he concealed 
himself for several days with his family in 
a cave. But, at length, being driven by 
thirst to leave their retreat, they went in 
quest of water to a neighbouring spring. 
Here they were surprized by a party of the 
enemy while in the act of quenchidg their 
thirst. The father, obeying the first im¬ 
pulse of nature, fled, but the cries of his 
wife and children soon brought him back 
again for their protection. But seeing the 
enemy near, again he fled. The enemy 
seeing the affection of the father for his 
family, having seized his wife and cliil- 


5 


Henry Obookiah. 

tlren, put them to the torture, in order to 
decoy him from his retreat. The artifice 
succeeded. Unable to bear the piercing 
cries of his family, again he appeared and 
fell into their hands, and with his wife was 
cut in pieces. While this was going on, 
Obookiah being then a lad of about twelve 
years, took his infant brother upon his 
back, and attempted to make his escape. 
But he was pursued, and his little brother 
pierced through witli a pahooa, or spear, 
while on his back. lie himself was saved 
alive, because he was not young enough to 
give them trouble, nor old enough to excite 
their fears.” 

Obookiah, being now a prisoner in the 
hands of the enemy, was taken home to the 
house of the very man who murdered his 
parents. With him he remained, until he 
was found by an uncle, who having obtain¬ 
ed the consent of his keeper, took him into 
his own family and treated him as his 
child. This uncle was a priest; and had 
the rank of high priest of the Island. It 
was his design to educate Obookiah for tlm 
same* service. In pursuance of this pur¬ 
pose, he taught him long prayers and train¬ 
ed him to tiie task of repeating them daily 
in the temple of the idol. This ceremony 
he sometimes commenced before sunrise in 
A 2 


6 


Memoirs of 

the morning, and at other times was em¬ 
ployed in it during the whole or the greater 
part of the night. Parts of these prayers 
he often repeated to gratify the curiosity of 
his friends, after he came to this country.* 

He continued with his uncle and in this 
employment, until he took his departure 
from his native country, to go in quest of 
another, where he hoped to find the happi¬ 
ness which the death of his parents had ta¬ 
ken from him, and which nothing, now to 
he found in his own country, could at all 
supply. 

His own feelings on this subject, with 
some account of his situation while he re¬ 
mained upon the Island, of his departure 
for America, and his reception in this 
country, are found in a history of his past 
life written by himself several years before 
his death. As this, to all the readers of 
these memoirs will doubtless be interesting, 
considered especially as the production of a 
heathen youth, the greater part of it will 
be inserted ; with but few slight alterations. 
His own ideas, and in general, his own 
language will be preserved. 

* The prayers regarded the weather, the general pros- 
perity of the Island, its defence from enemies, and espe¬ 
cially the life and happiness of the King. 


Henry Obookiah . 


The history commences at the time of his 
parents’ death. 

“ The same man,” says he, “ which 
killed my father and mother took me home 
to his own house. His wife was an amia¬ 
ble woman, and very kind, and her hus¬ 
band also : yet ©n account of killing my 
parents I did not feel contented. After I 
lived with this man about a year or two, I 
found one of my uncles, who was a priest 
among them; but he knew not who 1 was, 
(for I was quite small when he saw me at 
home with my parents.) lie enquired the 
name of my parents—I told him. As soon 
as he heard the name of my parents, tears 
burst out and he weeped bitterly. He wish 
ed me not to go back and Jive with that man 
which killed my father and mother, but to 
live with him as long as I live. I told him 
I must go back and see that man, whether 
he was willing to give me a release. This 
was done. I went home, and told the man 
all what my uncle had told me. But the 
saying seemed to him very unpleasing. As 
soon as he had heard all what I said to him, 
he was very tormented with anger, as if he 
would look me in pieces that moment. He 
would not let me go, not till he die, or else 
be take my life away. Not long after this, 
I went and told my uncle what the man had 


3 


Memoirs of 


told me, and he would no more let me go 
back to the man’s house, until the man come 
after me, then lie would converse with him 
on tins subject. After I had lived with my 
unde two or three days, the man came to 
his house, to take me home. But my un¬ 
de told him that I was as his own child— 
that he would not let me go back and live 
with him; else if he take me, he should 
take both of us. Yet the man did say but 
little because my uncle was a priest. But 
1m told my uncle that if I should live with 
him, he must take kind care of me as what 
he has done. He told him lie would by all 
means. When all this was done I lived with 
my unde a number of years.*’ 

It was probably during this period, and 
before peace was entirely restored to the Isl¬ 
and, that an event occurred in which the 
hand of Providence was strikingly visible 
in rescuing Obookiah from a second expo* 
sure to a violent and untimely death. 

He, with an aunt, the only surviving sis¬ 
ter of his father, had fallen into the posses¬ 
sion of the enemy. On a certain day it 
came to his knowledge that his aunt, and, 
perhaps himself, was to be put to death— 
the first opportunity he could find, he at¬ 
tempted to make his escape. And by creep¬ 
ing through a hole into a cellar, and going 


Henri) Obookiah. 


9 


out on the opposite side, he got away, unob¬ 
served, ^nd wandered off at a considerable 
distance from the house in which he had 
been kept. Hut it was not long before his 
aunt was brought out, by a number of the 
enemy, and taken to a precipice, from which 
she was thrown and destroyed, lie saw 
this—and now feeling himself, more than 
ever alone, as soon as the enemy had re¬ 
tired, he ran toward the fatal spot, resolv¬ 
ed to throw himself over and die with this 
friend ; whom, perhaps, he now considered 
as the last individual of his kindred. But 
lie was discovered by one of the chiefs, or 
head men of the party, who ordered two 
men to pursue him and bring him back.— 
He was overtaken just before he reached 
the precipice, and carried back fo the quar¬ 
ters of the enemy. By a kind interposi¬ 
tion of Providence he was saved for pur¬ 
poses which will appear in the subsequent 
history. 

“ At the death of my parents,” he says, 
“ l was with them ,* I saw them killed with 
a bayonet—and with them my little brother, 
not more than two or three months old—so 
that 1 was left alone without father and 
mother in this wilderness world. Poor 
boy, thought I within myself, after they 
were gone, arc there any father or mother 


sO Memoirs of 

of mine at Lome, that I may go and find 
them at home? No; pool* boy am 1. And 
while l was at play with other children—. 
after we had made an end of playing, they 
return to their parents—but 1 was return¬ 
ed into tears;—for 1 have no home, neither 
lather nor mother- 1 was now brought 
away from my home to a stranger place, 
and 1 thought of nothing more but want of 
father or mother, and to cry day and night* 
“ While l was with my uncle, for some 
time l began to think about leaving that 
country, to go to some other part of the 
globe. I did not care where I shall go to. 
I thought to myself that if I should get 
away, and go to some other country, pro¬ 
bably I may find some comfort, more than 
to live there, without father and mother.—. 
I thought it will be better for me to go than 
to stay. About this time there was a ship 
conic from New-York -.—Captain Brintnali 
the master of the ship. As soon as it got 
into the harbour, in the very place where I 
lived, 1 thought of no more but to take the 
best chance 1 had, and if the Captain have 
no objection, to take me as one of his own 
servants and to obey his word. As soon as 
the ship anchored I went on board. The 
Captain soon enquired whose bov I was. 
Yet 1 knew not what he says to nic, for I 


li 


Henry GbookiaTi . 

could not speak the English language*— 
But there was a young man wiio could 
sp^ak the English language, and he told 
the Captain that I was the Minister’s neph¬ 
ew—(the minister of that place.) The 
Captain wished me to stay on board the 
ship that night, and the next day go home. 
This very much satisfied me, and I con¬ 
sented to stay. At evening the Captain in¬ 
vited me to eat supper with him. And 
there sat another boy with us who was to 
be my fellow-traveller; by name Thomas 
Hopoo—Thomas, a name given him by 
the supercargo of the ship. After supper 
the Captain made some enquiry to sec if 
we were willing to come to America ; and 
soon I made a motion with my head that 1 
was willing to go. This man was very 
agreeable, and his kindness was much de¬ 
lighted in my heart, as if I was his own 
son, and he was my own father. Thus I 
still continue thankful for his kindness to¬ 
ward me. 

“ The next morning the Captain wished 
me to go shore and see my uncle, whether 
ho was willing to let me go with him or not. 

I then got into a canoe and went on shore 
and found my uncle. He was at home.— 
He asked me. where was I been through all 
that night before. I told him that I was on 


12 Memoirs of 

board the ship and staid there all the night. 
I told him what my object was, and all 
what the Captain invite me to. As soon as 
my uncle heard that I was going to leave 
him, lie shut me up in a room, for he was 
not willing to let me go. While I was in 
the room my old grandmother coming in, 
asked me what was my notion of leaving 
them, and go with the people whom 1 know 
not. I told her it is better for me to go 
than to stay there. She said if l should 
leave them I shall not see them any more. 
I told her that I shall come back in a few 
months if 1 live. Her eyes were filled with 
tears. She said that I was very foolish 
boy. This was all she said, and she w'ent 
out from the room. As soon as she went 
out, 1 looked around expecting to find a 
hole that 1 might escape out of the house. 
And as soon as I saw a little hole in the 
side of the house, I got through it and went 
on board the ship. When my uncle heard 
that l was on hoard the ship, he got into his 
canoe and came hoard the ship enquiring 
after me. No sooner after he made some 
enquirement 1 was there discovered by one 
of our countrymen who had the care of the 
ship, and was brought forth, and come to 
my uncle’s house. He would not let me go 
not unless I pay him a hog for his god : 


Henry ObuokiaJi. 


i 3 

(for I was taken under his care, to be made 
for a minister.)’ 9 

Here there is an interruption in the his¬ 
tory, and it does not appear whether the ex¬ 
acted price was or was not paid for his dis¬ 
charge, and permission to come to Ameri¬ 
ca. Permission, however, was soon ob¬ 
tained. 

“ My uncle,” he says, “ would now de¬ 
lay me no longer, and I took my leave of 
them and bid them farewell. My parting 
with them was disagreeable to them and to 
me, but I was willing to leave all my rela¬ 
tions, friends and acquaintance; expected 
to see them no more in this world. We set 
out on our journey towards the Seal Islands, 
on the N. W. part of America. On (hesc 
islands the Captain left twenty or thirty 
men for scaling business on his way to 
Owhyhce. We found them safe. Among 
these men I found a very desirable young* 
man, by name Russell Hubbard, a son of 
Gen. H. of Ncw-IIaven. This Mr. Hub- 
hard was a member of Yale College. He 
was a friend of Christ. Christ was with 
him when I saw him, but I knew it not.— 
« Happy is the man that put his trust in 
God ! ,? Mr. Hubbard was very kind to me 
on our passage, and taught me the letters in 
English spelling-book. 

' B 


14 


.Memoirs of 

“ We continued on these Islands during 
six months, then took our course towards 
Owhyhee. Two of my countrymen were 
with me in the ship. One of them conclud¬ 
ed to stay at Owliyhce, and the other to pro¬ 
ceed on the voyage. The ship delayed no 
longer than a few days, and we set out for 
China, on our direct course to America.— 
On our way towards China my poor friend 
Thomas fell overboard. He was so care¬ 
less, not knowing what he was about, he 
went outside of the ship and drew salt wa¬ 
ter to wash plates with (for he was a cabin’s 
boy.) When the ship rolled he got in the- 
water. The Captain calks all hands upon 
the deck, and ordered to have all the sails 
pull down in order to let about—While vve 
were working upon our sails, my friend 
Thomas was out of sight. While ike was 
in the water he pulls all off his clothes in 
order to he lighter—Wc turned our ship 
and went back after him. We found him 
almost dead. He was in the water during 
the space of two and a half hours, O how 
glad was I then to see him—for he was al¬ 
ready gone. 

“We took our direct course from hence 
as it was before. Soon we landed at an 
Island belonging to that part of China, and 
in the evening after the sun-clown we an- 


13 


Henry Qbaakiah, 

chored. On the next morning we fired 
one of our cannon for a pilot. When we 
had fired once or twice, there was another 
ship of war belonging to the British, which 
stood about four or five miles apart from us. 

As soon as they heard our cannon, they 
sent one of their brigs. We were then ta¬ 
ken by it for a while. They took our Cap¬ 
tain and he went on board the men of war’s 
ship. Ho was there for a number of days. 
After this the Englishmen agreed to let us 
go. We therefore leave that place, called 
Mocow or Mockow, (Mocao) and directed 
our course to the city of Canton. We were 
there until we sold out all our seal-skins and 
loaded our ship with other sort of goods ; 
such as tea, cinnamon, nankeens and silk, 
&c. At the end of six months we steered 
a direct course to America. At the Cape 
of Good Hope, or before it, our sailors on 
hoard the ship began to terrify at us.—. 
They said that there was a man named 
Neptune who lived in that place and bis 
abiding place was in the sea. In the eve¬ 
ning the sailors begun the act.—One of them 
took an old great coat and put on him, and 
with a speaking trumpet in his hand, and 
his head was covered with a sheep-skin; 
and be went forward of the ship arid mak¬ 
ing a great noise. x4bout this time friend 


16 


Memoirs of 


Thomas and myself were on the quarter¬ 
deck, hearing* some of them telling about 
Neptune’s coming with an iron canoe, and 
iron paddle. Friend Thomas questioned 
whether the iron canoe will not sink down 
in the water. “ No.” said some of them, 
“ he will make it light for he is a God.” 
While we were talking, the first we heard 
the sound of trumpet as follows .—“ Ship 
hail! from whence came your”—The Cap¬ 
tain immediately giving an answer in this 
manner: “From Canton.” “Have you 
got my boys,” said the old Neptune.— 
“ Yes,” answered the Captain.—“ Ilow 
many boys have you,” added the old Nep¬ 
tune. “ Two,” said the Captain, (that is 
myself and friend Thomas.) As soon as 
we both heard the Captain says « two,” we 
both scared almost to death ; and wished 
we were at home. The old Neptune wish¬ 
ed to see us ; but we dare not come near at 
it. He continued calling to us to come to 
him, or else he would take both of us to be 
as his servants. We therefore went up 
immediately and shook our hands with him 
in friendly manner. 1 thought that he was 
quite an old age; by seeing his long beards 
and his head covered with gray hairs: 
for his head ^as covered with a sheep¬ 
skin. After our conversation with him 
he wished for drink. So that I went 


Henry Oh.okiah. 


17 


and Ailed two pails full of salt-water, (as 
the sailors had told us,) and 1 set them be¬ 
fore him. Then he took his speaking trum¬ 
pet and put it in my mouth for tunnel, in 
order to make me drink that salt-water 
which I brought. But while he stoops down 
to reach the pail of water, I took hold of 
the speaking trumpet and hold it on one 
side of my cheek, so that 1 may not drink 
a drop of salt water: did not any body 
knew it for it was dark. But friend Thom¬ 
as he was so full of scare, he took down 
a great deal of salt water. On the next 
morning he was taken sick, and puked from 
the morning until the evening. 

“ About this time our provision was al¬ 
most out. We had no bread, meat and wa¬ 
ter, save only one biscuit a day and one 
pint of water ; only when the cook put in 
our tea. We were looking out for a vessel 
for a long time. Within a few days we 
come close to a schooner going to the West 
Indies; sailed from Boston. We fired at 
her in order to stop her. So did she. We 
got from them as much provision as wc 
wished, and this^asted us until we got to 
New-York. 

««We landed at New-York in the year 
1809 : continued there a few weeks, and 
after the captain sold out all the goods that 

B 2 


is 


Memoirs of 

arc in the ship, we then parted with all our 
sailors : every one to go to their own home. 
But friend Thomas and myself continued 
with the Captain. One evening two gen¬ 
tlemen called on board the ship to see us. 
After our conversation was made with 
them, they wished us to go with them into 
a play-house, to show the curiosity. We 
then went with them into the play-house 
and saw a great number of peoples, as I 
ever saw before. Wc staid during the 
fore part of the evening, then went on 
hoard the ship. The next morning the 
same two gentlemen called again and in¬ 
vited us to come to their house that fore¬ 
noon. So that wc both went. I thought 
while in the house of these two gentlemen 
how strange to see females eat with men. 

« Within a few days we left our ship and 
went home with Captain B. to New-Ha- 
ven; the place where lie lived. There 1 
lived with him for some time. In this 
place I become acquainted with many stu¬ 
dents belonging to the College. By these 
pious students I was told more about God 
than what I had beard before ; but I was 
so ignorant that 1 could not see into it 
whether it was so. Many times I wished 
to hear more about God, but find no body 
to interpret it to me. I attended many 


Henry Obookmh, 


19 


meetings on the sabbath, but find difficulty 
t<) understand the minister. 1 could under¬ 
stand or speak but very little of tbe Eng¬ 
lish language. Friend Thomas went to 
school to one of the students in the Col¬ 
lege before I thought of going to school. 

I heard that a ship was ready to sail from 
Ncw-York within a few days for Owhybee. 
The Captain was willing that I might take 
leave of this country and go home it 1 
wish. But this was disagreeable to my 
mind. I wished to continue in this coun¬ 
try a little longer. I staid another week— 
sa v Mr E. W. D. who first taught me to 
read and write. The first time 1 saw him, 
he enquired whether 1 was one who came 
over with Thomas, (for Thomas was 
known among many schollars in College.) 
I told him l was one who came over with 
Thomas. He then asked me if I wished 
t 0 learn to read and w rite. I told him that 
I was. He wished me to come to bis room 
that night and begin to learn. So that I 
went in the evening ami began to read in 
the spelling-book. Mr. D. wished me to 
come to his room at any tune when i 
agreeable to the Captain with whom I then 
lived. I went home that night and the 

next morning 1 mentioned all this matter 

to the Captain. He was pleased, and he 


20 


•Xcmoirs of 

wished me to go to school to Mr. 1). 
Thus l continued in school with him for 
several months.” 

When Obookiah was first discovered at 
New-Haven by the'person of whom ho 
speaks, his appearance was unpromising, 
lie was clothed in a rough sailor’s suit, 
was of a clumsy form, and his counte¬ 
nance dull and heavy. His friend had al¬ 
most determined to pass him by, as one 
whom it would be in vain to notice and at¬ 
tempt to instruct. But when the question 
was put him “ Do you wish to learn ?” his 
countenance began to brighten. And when 
tbe proposal was made that he should come 
the next day to the college for that purpose, 
he served it with great eagerness. 

It was not long after he began to study, 
and bad obtained some further knowledge 
of the English language, that be gave evi¬ 
dence, that the dullness, which was thought 
to he indicated by his countenance, formed 
no part of his character, it soon appear¬ 
ed that his eyes were open to every thin"* 
that was passing around him, and that he 
bad an unusual degree of discernment with 
regard to persons and things of every de¬ 
scription that came within his notice. The 
first exhibition that was made of this trait 
m l3is character, and indeed the first deci- 


Henry Obookiah. 


SI 

•give evidence he furnished that his mind 
was less inactive than had been supposed, 
was in the following incident. 

When he began to read in words of one 
or two syllables in the Spelling-book there 
were certain sounds which he found it very 
difficult to articulate. This was true, es¬ 
pecially of syllables that contained the 
letter h : a letter which occasioned him 
more trouble than all others. In pro¬ 
nouncing it, he uniformly gave it the sound 
of L, At every different reading an at¬ 
tempt was made to correct the pronuncia¬ 
tion. The language generally used on such 
occasions was, “ Try , Obookiah, it is very 
easy.” This was often repeated. But it 
was soon perceived, that whenever these 
words were used they excited a smile. 
And as patience began to be tried by many 
unsuccessful attempts, ami the words to be 
used more in earnest, be was observ¬ 
ed to turn away bis face for the purpose of 
concealment, and seemed much diverted. 
As be was unable to express bis thoughts 
except by acts, no explanation was made 
and none demanded. The reason was 
scarcely perceived. But as the attempts 
to correct the error were at last successful, 
the circumstance was vSoon forgotten. A 
short time after this, long enough, however, 


Memoirs of 


22 

for Obookiah to have made some improve¬ 
ment in speaking the English, his instruc¬ 
tor was spending an evening pleasantly 
with him, in making enquiries concerning 
some of the habits and practices of his own 
. country. Among other things Obookiah 
mentioned the manner in which his coun¬ 
trymen drank from a springs when out up¬ 
on their hunting excursions. The cup 
which they used, was their hands. It was 
made by clasping them together, and so 
adjusting the thumbs, and bending the 
hands, as to form a vessel which would 
contain a considerable quantity. Of this 
bo gave an example; and after preparing 
. Ids hands, was able, from the pliabicncss of 
his arms, to raise them entirely to his 
mouth, without turning them at all from 
their horizontal position. The experiment 
was attempted by his instructor: hut he 
Found that before his hands were raised 
half the distance to Ids mouth, they were 
so much inverted, that their contents would 
have been principally lost. lie repeated 
the trial until he began to be discouraged; 
when Obookiah, who had been much amus¬ 
ed with his efforts, with a very expressive 
countenance said to him, “Try, Mr. 1)., it 
is very easyM The former mystery was 
now unravelled, and an important lesson 


Henry Obookiah. 


23 


taught with respect to the ease or difficulty, 
'with which things are done by us, that are 
or are not natural to us; or to which we 
have or have not been, from early life, ac¬ 
customed. 

About this time, it was discovered that 
Obookiah noticed with uncommon acuteness 
' and. interest, every singularity in the speech 
and manners of those around him. And in the 
midst of his own awkwardness, to the sur¬ 
prise of all who were conversant with him, 
he suddenly began to shew himself dexter¬ 
ous as a mimick. He one day placed him¬ 
self upon the floor, drew up Ids sleeves 
half way to the (dhow, walked across the 
room with a peculiar air, and said “ Who 
diS ?” The person intended was instantly 
known by all that were present. He then 
put himself in a different position, changed 
liis gait, and said again, <* Well who dis?” 
This' imitation also was so accurate, of 
another of the members of College, that 
no one doubted with regard to the original. 
The extent of his own awkwardness at this 
time may be learned from the effect which 
an exhibition of it produced upon himself. 
After he had completed his own efforts at 
mimrokry, Ids friend said to him, “Well, 
Obookiah, should you like to know how 
you walk 2" He seemed much pleased with 


24 


Memoirs of 


the suggestion, and the imitation was at¬ 
tempted. He was greatly diverted, though 
almost incredulous, and said with earnest¬ 
ness—several times repeating the question 
—“Me walk so?" After being assured 
that it was a reality, he burst into a loud 
roar of laughter and fell upon the floor, 
where he indulged his mirth until he had 
exhausted his strength. 

The same trait of character was dis¬ 
coverable in the manner in which he was 
affected with respect to the idols of the hea¬ 
then, upon the first instruction given him 
concerning the true God. He was at once 
very sensibly impressed with the ludicrous 
nature of idol worship. Smiling at its ab¬ 
surdity, he said « Owhyhce gods! they 
wood , burn; Me go home, put ’em in a fire, 
burn ’em up. They no see , no hear , no 
any thing ”—then added, “ We make them — 
Our God , (looking up) He make us .” 

The history proceeds—“ Now I wished 
no more to live with Captain any longer, 
but rather wished to live somewhere else, 
where I could have an opportunity to learn 
to write and read. I went to my friend 
Mr. D. who was to be my best and kind 
friend; I made known to him all my de¬ 
sire. I told him that I wished to live where 
I could have an opportunity to get in some 


Henry Obookiah . 


25 


school, ami work a part of the time. He 
then wished me to live with President 
Dwight. This satisfied me; I went with 
him to Dr. Dwight’s house. 1 lived with 
this pious and good family for some time, 
and went t o school to the same man as be- 
tore. While I lived with these good people 
I have more time to attend to my book 
than I ever did before. Here was the first 
time I meet with praying family morning 
and evening. It was difficult for me to un¬ 
derstand what was said in prayer, but 1 
doubt not this good people were praying 
lor me while I was with them ; seeing that 
1 was ignorant of God and my Saviour. 
1 heard of God, as often as 1 lived with 
this family, and 1 believed but little. Whilst 
X lived at Dr. Dwight’s, I went up to my 
school room one evening, and saw Mr. 
S. J. M., a son of Rev/Mr. S J. I., of 
Tcrringford, sitting w ith Mr. D. my in¬ 
structor. Mr. D. wished me to make ac¬ 
quaintance with Mr. M. So did I—(and 
shook hands with him.) Mr. M. continu¬ 
ed in New-Haven for several months. Du¬ 
ring this time he wished me to go home 
witii him; he says lie has a good father, 
mother, brother and sister. This request¬ 
ing was very pleasing to me—so that J 
consented. X then left New-Haven and 
C 


26 Memoirs of 

went home with Mr. M. I lived with this 
family in the year 1S10. These people 
were the most judicious and kindest people, 
1 was treated by them in the most affection ¬ 
ate manner—(yet not knowing who brought 
me there, for 1 was very ignorant of Him 
who gave me so many good friends in this 
country.) It seemed to me as my own 
home. It was. And I have made my 
home there frequently. I could say much 
of them, but what more can l do, but to 
remember their kindness toward me. 
While I was with them I continued my 
study in spelling, reading and writing, to 
Mr. ,T. F. M. a brother of Mr. M. whom 
I was acquainted with at tho first. Here 
I learned some sort of farming business : 
cutting wood, pulling flax, mow ing, See .— 
only to look at the other and learn from 
them.” 

As Gbookiah was to obtain, in part, his 
support at Mr. Mills’ by his labour, lie was 
immediately set about most kinds of busi¬ 
ness that pertain to a farm. And though 
this was a new employment to him, he was 
found to excel in every thing to which he 
turned his hand. One glance at others for 
an example was all the instruction that lm 
required, before he was ready to undertake. 


Henry Obookiah, 27 

ami to perform skilfully, every kind of la¬ 
bour. 

The following extract of a letter from 
the Rev. Mr. Mills, sufficiently illustrates 
this part of his character. 

« There was something unusual in re¬ 
gard to Obookiah. His attention to what 
passed before him, and his talent at imita¬ 
tion, were singular. He bad never mown 
a clip until he came to live with me. My 
son furnished him with a scythe. He stood 
and looked on to see the use be made of it, 
and at once followed, to the surprise of 
those who saw him. We had a spell at 
reaping. We furnished him with a sickle. 
He stood and looked, and followed on. It 
was afterwards observed by a person who 
was in the held, that there were not two 
reapers there who excelled him. 

“ In these respects and others, he w as 
truly a remarkable youth.” 

While Obookiah remained in the family 
of Mr. Mills « every possible attention was 
paid to the improvement of his mind, and 
his progress was such as to convince those 
who instructed him that their labour was 
not in vain. He soon acquired a knowl¬ 
edge of the spelling-book, and in a few 


23 


Memoirs of 

months vvas able to read in the Testament. 
By this time he had also made considerable 
proficiency in writing. It was observed 
that he learned to talk English just as fast 
as he learned to read it. When he became 
able to communicate his ideas in a broken 
manner, he would express a very tender 
concern for his countrymen.”* 

Henry now made his first essay at letter¬ 
writing. His first letter was written to his 
friend Thomas at New-Haven, and the 
second to his former instructor The last 
has been preserved, and for reasons that will 
be obvious, is here inserted.—The following 
is an exact copy. 

“ Torringjord , March 2, 1810. 
“Mr. E. D. Sir, 

“ 1 here now—this place, Torring- 
ford—I glad sec you very much. 1 laugh 
Tom Hoboo—he say—“ Obooki write me 
that? Me no write.” 1 want you tell Tom 
Mr. S. Mills say it we be good boys we 
shall have friends. One morning you know 
1 come into your room in College, and you 
tell me— read—you say, what c.a.p. spell? 
then I say c.a.p. pig. 1 spell four syllables 
now, and I say what is the chief end of 

* “Narrative of Heathen Youth.” 


29 


Henry Obo.'kiah . 

man. I like you much. I like your 
brother, and your friend Mr. Dean. I 
wear this great coat you gave me to meet¬ 
ing every Sunday. I wish you would write 
me a letter and tell me what Tom do. 

This from 

Henry Obooici.” 

(( Mrs. M. the wife of the Rev. Mr. M.” 
continues Qbookiah, « was a very amiable 
woman, and I was treated by her as her 
own child. She used me kindly and learn¬ 
ed me to say the Catechism. 

“Many Ministers called on the Rev. 
Mr. M. and I was known by a great num¬ 
ber of Ministers. But on account of my 
ignorance of the true God, I do not wish 
to hear them when they talk to me. i 
would not wish to he in the room where 
they were; neither did I wish to come near 
to a Minister, for the reason that lie should 
talk to me about God, whom I hated to 
hear. I was told by them about Heaven 
and Hell, hut I did not pay any attention to 
what they say; for I thought that I was 
just as happy as the other people, as those 
who do know about God much more than 1 
do. But this thought, as I see to it now, 
was the most great and dangerous mistake. 

C 2 


SO Memoirs of 

“At the close of the year 1810, 1 left 
this place and went to Andover. I con¬ 
tinued there for some time. Here my wick¬ 
ed heart began to see a little about the di¬ 
vine things; but the more I see to it, the 
more it appear to be impenetrability. 1 
took much satisfaction in conversing with 
many students in the Institution. I spent 
a little time with some of them, and m 
going to one room and to another to recite 
to them : for I was taken under their care. 
Whenever I got a lesson I had a right to go 
to any room in College to recite. While 
I was there fora longtime, my friend Mr. 
M. was there; one of my kindest friends 
that I had, who took me away from bis fa¬ 
thers house. This young Mr. M was 
studying Divinity at the College, where I 
was instructed by the students.” 

It was at this time and with the friend 
W'ho has been mentioned that Obookiah 
made his first attempt to pray in the pres¬ 
ence of another. “ His friend having knelt 
down and prayed, turning to him before 
they rose, said, <you may pray.’—When 
he delivered himself, in substance, in the 
following terms.” 

“ Great and eternal God—make heaven 
—make earth—make every tiling—have 
mercy on me—make me understand the 


Henry Obookiah. 


31 


Bible—make me good—great God have 
mercy on Thomas—make him good—make 
Thomas and me go back Owbyhee—tell 
folks in Owhyhee, no more praj to stone 
god—make some good man go with me to 
Owhyhee, tell folks in Owhyhee about 
Heaven—about Hell—God make all people 
good every where—great God have mercy 
on College—make all good—make Mr. 
Samuel good—have mercy of Mr Samuel’s 
father, mother, sister, brother ”—.<« Our fa¬ 
ther which art in Heaven,” Sec, 

“ My friend Mr. M. now thought it 
would be well for me to leave Andover, 
and go to some school, where 1 may im¬ 
prove my time much more than I could 
there. He said if l should go he would 
try to find some good people who would be 
willing to support me. This was a most 
kind offer, which I canot feel any more 
than to be thankful for all this kindness to 
me. Mr. M. now sent me to Bradford 
Academy; and there I continued for some 
time at school. The people where 1 board¬ 
ed, at the house of Deacon FI. were a most 
pious family. But while l was herein the 
school, my serious feelings, which I had be¬ 
fore, lost all; and become very ignorant 
of religion by being among some unserious 
company* talking many foolish subjects. 1 


S2 JMemoirs of 

thought now I shall never have any more 
such feelings as I had before—I thought 
that I must always be miserable here and 
hereafter, I became prayerless and thought¬ 
less—-no hope for mercy.—never attempted 
to be alene as I had done before. 1 sit and 
walked about all day—-took no opportunity 
to be at the throne of grace, but rather to 
he stupid—from the morning until evening 
never thought of him who kept me alive ; 
neither when Hay down upon my bed, nor 
when I rose up. I was in this situation for 
a long time, while I was at school. At the 
close of the school I went back to Andover. 
Mr. M. was not there. It was vacation. I 
staid until lie returned. When he return¬ 
ed he enquired how I have been, and how f 
was pleased with the school, 1 answered 
well. But I did not let him know' what 
was my situation, and what trouble 1 had 
met with while I was there, but kept all 
these things in my ow n mind. 

‘‘In the spring season of the year 1511, 
I hired myself out for a month or two, on 
a ount of iny health, with Mr. F. who 
lived about live miles from the College. 
Mr. F. one day sent me into the woods not 
far from the house to work. I took an 
axe and went and worked there till towards 
noon* But here ()! I come to myself 


33 


Henry Obookiah. 

again ! many thoughts come into my mind 
that i was in a dangerous situation. I 
thought that if I should then die, I must 
certainly he cast off for ever. While l 
was working it appeared as it was a voice 
saying, “ Cut it down, why cumbereth it 
the ground.” I worked no longer—but 
dropped my axe, and walked, a few steps 
lrom the place (for the people in the house 
would soon send a lad after me, for it was 
noon.) I fell upon my knees and looked up 
to the Almighty Jehovah for help. I was 
not but an undone and hell-deserving sin¬ 
ner. I felt that it would be just that (Jod 
should cast me off whithersoever he would 
—that he should do witli my poor soul as 
it seemed to him fit, I spent some time here 
until [ heard a boy calling for me--and I 
went. The people in the house asked of 
my sadness—to which 1 gave but little an¬ 
swer. In the night my sleep was taken 
*ivvay from me. I kept awake almost the 
whole night. Many of my feelings and 
thoughts in past time came into remem¬ 
brance—and bow I treated the me cy of 
God while I was at Bradford Academy. 

I he next morning I rose up before the rest, 
and went to a place where 1 was alone by 
myself. Here I went both morning night 
and noon. At this little place I find some 


34 Memoirs of 

comfort. And when I go there I enjoy my¬ 
self better all the day. 

“ At the end of two months I returned to 
Andover. Many times Mr. M. asked mo 
about my feelings, and I was neither wil¬ 
ling to answer much, nor could I. on ac¬ 
count of my unfruitfulness and wickedness. 

«I continued licrc a few days and then 
hired myself out again, and went to labour 
for Mr. A. a farmer, in haying time. Mr. 
A. was a good man, and it was a religious 
family. 1 had here the same seriousness 
in my mind as before, but never did meet 
with real change of heart yet.” 

During Obookiah’s residence at Andover, 
he lived two years in the family of Mr. A. 
the Steward of the Theological institution. 
This family bears very favourable testimo¬ 
ny to the excellence of his character. They 
speak of him with tears. Said Mrs. A. to 
a friend, «He was always pleasant. I 
never saw him angry. He used to come in¬ 
to nay chamber and kneel down by me and 
pray. Mr. M. did not think he was a Chris¬ 
tian, at that time, but lie appeared to be 
thinking of nothing else but religion. He 
afterwards told me that there was a time 
when be wanted to get religion into his head 
more than into his heart” 

In an absence of a month or two from 


Ilenry Obaokiah . $5 

the family, lie wrote a letter to Mrs. A, 
from which the following is an extract. 

“ I sometimes think about my poor soul, 
and that which God hath done. I will cry 
unto God— 44 What shall I do to be saved 
I know that God is able to take away blind 
eyes and wicked heart. We must be bom 
again and have a new spirit before we die. 
As soon as we shall be dead, all we must 
stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 
Friend, perhaps you have not done any 
thing wicked, so that God can punish you. 
I hope you have not. Bui if we are not hi* 
friends and followers he will cast us into 
Hell, and we shall be there for ever and 
ever. I hope you will think upon all these 
things. Friend to you, 

Henry Obookiah.” 

Whilst at Andover Obookiali beard that 
one of his countrymen resided in the vicini¬ 
ty. He hastened to him and spent a part 
of a day with him, and a night, in which 
they did not sleep. When he returned, a 
friend said to him, “ Well Henry, what 
news from Owbyhecr”' He replied, I did 
not think of Owhyhee , I had so much to say 
about Jesus Christ 

Henry had now become diligent in study- 


36 Memoirs of 

ing the Scriptures, and made rapid pro¬ 
gress in religious knowledge. The follow¬ 
ing fact is a specimen of what he had at¬ 
tained. 

He was asked, 6( How many miracles are 
recorded of our Saviour?” He began with 
the first, that of making water wine, and 
mentioned them all. 

In a letser from Andover communicating 
the preceding facts, it is observed, “ Mr. 
A. the Steward, says, Henry was very in¬ 
quisitive and could never be satisfied until 
he saw the whole of a subject. This was 
peculiarly observable during an eclipse of 
the sun, concerning which he asked many 
troublesome questions : and also with re¬ 
gard to many kinds of public business ; 
particularly the mode of levying, collecting 
and appropriating taxes. 

•* He was seen one morning very early 
with a rule measuring the College buil¬ 
dings and fences. He was asked why he 
did it. He smiled, and said, “ So that I 
shall know how to build when I go back to 
O why lice.” 

“ When he heard a word,” said Mr. A. 
” which he did not understand or could not 
speak-, it was his constant habit to ask me 
“ How you speh ? How you spell ? When I 
told him he never forgot.” 


Henry now began to maintain a corres¬ 
pondence with his absent friends : a prac¬ 
tice in which lie seemed to take unusual 
• pleas-ure through the whole of his future 
life*. 

The two following letters, written at An¬ 
dover,, are taken from the “ Narrative of 
Heathen Youth.” “ They were exactly 
copied from the original with a few cor¬ 
rections in the punctuation.” ' 

“ Andoveb, Dec. 15, 1812. 

“ Bear Christian Friend , 

“I irnproVe this opportunity to write to 
you. And I saw your beloved book which 
you sent by Mr. G. and that I very much 
thank you for it.. I am great joy to God to 
give me such a good friend in this land 
where we hear the words of God—God is 
kind to us and to the other—that is to eve¬ 
ry body else. God will carry through his 
work for us; 

“ I do not know what- will God do with 
my poor soul. I shall go before God and 
also both Christ. 

“ We must all try to get forward where 
God wishes-us fo do. God is able to save 
sinners if we have some feeling in him. is 
very great tiling to have hope in him, and 
do all the Christian graces. I hope the 
D 


38 


Memoirs oj 

Lord will send the gospel to the heathen 
land where the words of the Saviour never 
yet had been. Poor people worship the 
wood and stone and shark, and almost- eve¬ 
ry thing their gods ; the Bible is not there, 
and Heaven and Hell they do not know 
about it. I yet in this country and no la¬ 
ther and no mother. But God is friend if 
l will do his will and no*t my own will.” 

The following letter was written to the 
Rev. Mr. Mills of Torringford. 

“ Akdovee, Jan.*27,.1813. 

“ Very dear Christian Fraud , 

“ l improve this opportunity to write to 
you a letter. 1 received .your two letters 
and 1 had broken the seals of both of them, 
aiid 1 have read those sweet words that 
make my poor and wicked heart feel cold, 
as like cold water. O Lord how long shall 
1 continue in my own sins? Lord wilt thou 
hear my secret prayer. 

“ Hear Sir, 1 hope your prayer for the 
poor and blind immortal souls will be heard. 
1 thank you to pray for me beside tny own 
prayer. Pray to God that he might pour 
down his Holy Spirit upon all our souls.— 
1 do not know what will become of my poor 
soul, when my time is full come hereafter. 


Henry Obookiah. 39 

Butin my own feeling I wish his-will, and 
I am willing that God do what he please 
for my poor soul. What are sweet things 
in this world, sinners like better than their 
own souls which are going down to .thebot¬ 
tomless pit. O how wicked and sinful are 
we. How shall we go to the path of life 
and of his truth, and be with him in Heav¬ 
en. No way at all ; only we must give 
away ourselves to him‘and leave all our 
sins behind. Some think they know not 
how. to pray ; but they ought to know,, for 
Christ hath taught us. I went to Tynge- 
bury last week to see a boy who came from 
Owhyhee. He-arrived last Juue—(this is 
not Thomas that came with me.) 'As the 
distance from this olace was small 1 went 
to visit him, 1 hope the Lord will have 
mercy upon his poor soul He knew no¬ 
thing of the Saviour before I told him. I 
first mention^ to him Genesis 1. &c. tell¬ 
ing him that God made the world by his 
own power ; then he said, 0 how foolish 
we are to worship wood and stone gods; we 
give them hogs and cocoa nuts and banana, 
but they cannot eat. Yes, said 1, it is 
foolish. Then he asked me where that man 
was, that made every thing. I told him, 
he was every where with us. Does he hear 
when you and I talk? says he. I told him 


40 


Memoirs oj 

yes, and you must believe in bim if you 
would be bis friend. He said he did believe 
what I told bim. He has not learned to un¬ 
derstand English, but I spoke in Owhyhee. 
I took him with me to the minister’s house 
on Sabbath evening, so 1 told him in Owby- 
bee wbat Mr. Allen the minister said. He 
had been before but could not understand 
what was said. I told him what God did 
for him in keeping him alive, and bringing 
him to this country. He said he liked that 
man very much, (meaning God.) He ask¬ 
ed me many questions again and again about, 
God, which I answered. After we went to 
bed be said lie’would never forget what I 
had tofd bim. He said when be eat he 
would remember who gave him food. The 
people where he lived said he might stay 
there as he would ; and when lie had learn¬ 
ed English a little he might go to school. 
He did cry when I left him. 

In the spring of the year 1S1 2) Mr. Mills, 
the particular patron of Obookiah, w as ap¬ 
pointed by the Board of Commissioners to 
take a Missionary tour through the western 
and southern states. Soon after his de¬ 
parture Obookiah went to sp6nd several 
months at Hollis, in New Hampshire.— 
46 Here,” he says, “ I lived with two good 
men, Dca. E. and Dca. B. and with the 


Henry Obookiah. 


4i 


Rev. Mr. S. While I was in this place, I 
became more thoughtful about myself. I 
attended many of the young people’s meet¬ 
ings, and I was qute happy. But I was 
now taken sick of a fever at the house of 
Dea. B. I was very weak and was not 
able to answer to the questions of those who 
came to visit me. Then thought l, where 
shall I go for a physician, but unto thee ! 
Death had but a little fear. I continued 
sick for live weeks. The whole iamily of 
Dea. B. were very kind. 1 was treated 
with the most affectionate care during the 
whole of my sickness. Doctor C. was a 
very kind and friendly man. He was a pi¬ 
ous man and good Christian. Many times 
be prayed with me while I was upon my 
sick bed. 

“ One day Mrs. B. asked me whether I 
was willing to die and leave this world of 
sin and go to the better. To which I re¬ 
plied that I should have no objection if God 
should do with me as it seemed to him fit. 
She added, “ Do you remember the good¬ 
ness and the kindness of God toward you V 9 
I answered yes—For I have neither a fath¬ 
er nor a mother, nor a brother nor a sister 
in this stranger country but He. But O ! 
am 1 fit to call him my father ? « Whosoev¬ 
er doeth his will the same is a child of 
D 2 


42 Memoirs of 

God.” No longer after my complaint was 
over I began to experience hope in religion. 
I thought often concerning the happiness of 
another world and eternal realities. But 
m v mind and my heart of wickedness would 
often turn back to this w orld: (if 1 do not 
think about the serious things.) Many times 
I meet with dark hour. But the greatest 
part of the time 1 took much comfort and 
happiness, both in my secret prayer and in 
serious conversation with others. I thought 
now with myself that 1 have met with a 
change of heart. It was so if I mistake 
not. For the Lord Jesus did appear as 
chiefest among ten thousand, and one al¬ 
together lovely; and his mercy appeared 
to be welcome to a sinner as I.” 

In the fall Henry left Hollis and returned 
to Andover; where he remained until the 
succeeding spring: when he took his final 
leave of that place, and went “ home” to the 
house of the Rev. Mr. Mills in Torring- 
ford. Here he passed the following sum¬ 
mer. 

During this residence at Mr. Mills’s, he 
occasionally visited Litchfield, to see the 
person who had been his early friend at 
New-Haven. As this was but a short pe¬ 
riod after his hopeful conversion, his friend 
w as anxious to ascertain what knowledge 


Henry Obookiah, 4S 

itc possessed of experimental religion. To 
the questions that were asked him, he gave 
answers which clearly evinced that on this 
subject he had thought and felt for himself; 
and furnished much reason to hope that lie 
had been savingly instructed hy the lloly 
Spirit. « How does your own heart appear 
to your” was a question put to him. To 
which lie replied, “ O black, very black 
“ But you hope you have a new heart, how 
did it appear to you before it was chang¬ 
ed ?” « Mud” he said « all mud.” 

His conversation was at this time much 
upon the subject of religion, and beseemed 
lor so young a Christian, to be in an un¬ 
common degree heavenly minded. He said, 
« When T at home—at Torringford—out in 
the field I can’t help think about Heaven. 
I go in a meadow—work at the hay—my 
hands—hut my thought—no there .—In 
Heaven—all time —then 1 very happy. 

He had already acquired a very consider¬ 
able knowledge of the Scriptures. He 
quoted passages appropriate to almost eve¬ 
ry subject of conversation. It was evident 
that his mind dwelt upon the truth of the Bi¬ 
ble and that he found much of his habitual 
pleasure in searching out the less obvious 
treasures which it contained. He manifes¬ 
ted great inquisitiveness with regard to 


44 Memoirs oj 

passages of Scripture whose meaning he 
did not entirely comprehend. Many pas¬ 
sages were the subject of enquiry. One 
only is recollected. “What our Saviour 
mean,” said he, “ when he say ‘ In my 
father’s house are many mansion*—<1 go 
prepare a place for you.’ What he mean, 
* I go prepare a place ?’ ” 

The readiness and propriety with which 
he quoted' passages of Scripture on every 
occasion, were particularly noticed by all 
who conversed with him. In one of his 
visits he asked his friend, who was now in 
the study of Divinity, to go aside, as if he 
had something of importance which he 
wished to reveal. But it appeared that it 
was his object to converse with him upon 
the subject of accompanying him to Owhy- 
hee. He plead with great earnestness that 
he would go and preach the Gospel to his 
poor countrymen. Not receiving so much 
encouragement as he desired, he suspected 
that his friend might be influenced by the 
fear of the consequences of attempting to 
introduce a new religion among the hea¬ 
then. Upon which, though lie had now 
just begun to lisp the language of the scrip¬ 
tures, he said, «You [raid?” You know 
our Saviour say, < He that will save his life 
shall lose it ; and he that will lose his life for 
mij sake , same shall save it.” 


Henry Obookiah• 


45 


His own fearlessness and zeal on this 
subject he exhibited about the same time to 
an aged Minister who asked him why he 
wished to return to Owhyhee. He replied, 
“to preach the gospel to my countrymen. JJ 
He was asked, \vbat he would say to them 
about their wooden gods. He answered, 
“ Nothing.” “ But,” said the clergyman, 
“ suppose your country men should tell you 
that preaching Jesus Christ w r as blasphe¬ 
ming their gods, and should put you to 
death ?•” To this he replied with great em¬ 
phasis, “If that be the will of God, I am 
ready , I am ready.” • • 

* “ In tlie fall of J813, Henry was invited 
by James Morris, Esq. of Litchfield to 
spend the winter in his family* and attend 
the public grammar school, of which for 
many years he had been Precaptor. Here 
Henry commenced the study of English 
grammar, geography and arithmetic, in 
which he made during the winter very con¬ 
siderable progress. In the spring of 1814, 
he returned to Mr. Mill’s, and spent the 
summer, principally in labouring on the 
farm. At the annual meeting of the North 
Consociation of Litchfield county, in the 
fall of 1814, Henry, by the advice of hi s 
friends, applied to that body to take him 
tinker their care, and give him counsel and 


46 


Memoirs of 

direction as to his studies arid other con¬ 
cerns. Tiie Consociation voted to comply 
with his request, and appointed a board 
consisting of three persons, to superintend 
his education, and report to the Consocia¬ 
tion annually. 

After Obookiah was taken under the care 
of the Consociation, he pursued his studies 
under the direction of their committee, so 
far as the charity of iiis Christian fr ends 
furnished him with the means. He was 
obliged to labour a part of the time for his 
ovn support; and to. change from time to 
tin.e his place of residence* The evidences 
of his Christian character in the* view o*f 
those who had most: opportunity to observe 
him, were continually brightening. He 
discovered a strong relish for the Bible $ 
was constant in reading it; and seldom 
would any object or circumstances prevent 
his reading daily some portion of the Scrip¬ 
tures. Occasionally, when requested, he 
has prayed and spoken in social religious 
meetings, and always performed these ser¬ 
vices to the acceptance, and it is bel eved, 
to the edification of those present.** 

I he summer of 1814 Henry spent at 
lorringford. “In the beginning.of sum- 


y " Narrative of Heathen youth.’’ 


llcnry Obotkiah. • 47 

mer (lie says) my friend, Mr. M. whom I 
loved, returned from his missionary tour. 
I received him with joyful salutation. Sev¬ 
eral times he asked me how my wicked 
heart get along while 1 was hoeing corn.— 
But I was still fearful to tell whether my 
heart was changed or not. 

“ At this time, Mr. M* wished me to go 
and live with the llev. Mr. Harvey of Go¬ 
shen. This was pleasing to me, and i went 
to live with Mr. H. and studied geography 
and mathematics. And a part of the time 
was trying to translate a few verses of the 
Scriptures into my own language; and in 
making a kind of spelling book ; taking 
the English alphabet, and giving different 
names anil different sounds—for.this lan¬ 
guage was not written language.) 1 spent 
some time in making a kind of spelling- 
book, dictionary, grammar, &c.. 

“ While I* was in this place with.Rev. 
Mr. Id. I took more happiness upon my 
knees than I ever did before ; having a good 
room to study, and being alone the greatest 
part of the time. Many happy and seri¬ 
ous thoughts were coming into, my mind 
while I was upon my bed in the night. Ev¬ 
ery thing appeared to be very clear to my 
own view. Many times the Lord Jesus 
appeared in my mind to be the most great 


43 Memoirs of 

grace ami glorious. O what happy hours 
that I had in the night season ! I thought 
sometimes before, that religion was a hard 
thing to get it—making many excuses for 
pray hour, and kept putting oil* frorh time to 
time^ and thought it would become easier 
sometime at hand. But this kind of feel- 
ingled me far beyond all happiness# Many 
times I lived as a man that travels up to a hill 
and then down. But it was nothing that 
hindered me hut my own wicked heart, and 
because [ did not repent for my sin. 

f i I seeked lor the JLord Jesus for a long 
time, but found him not. It was because 1 
did not seek him in a right manner. But 
still l do think that I have found him upon 
my knees. The Lord was not in the ivind , 
neither in the earthquake, nor in theJire, but irt 
smalt voice . 

“ About.this time I thought with myself 
to join with some church. 1 wished to give 
every thing up for the glory of God', to 
give up my whole soul to him, to do with* 
me as he pleaseth. I made known these 
things to the Rev. Mr. H. and he thought 
it would be better for me to make a profes¬ 
sion of religion. He wished me to go and 
see the Rev. Mr. M. and the. people whom 
I have been acquainted with, and talk the 
matter over with them ; for X longed to be. 


49 


TIenrtj Obookiah. 

I therefore went nml conversed with my 
good friend and father l\l* concerning* my 
case. AH the matter seemed to him well; 
He wished me to come over on the next 
Sabbath and attend my examination. X 
staid -at Goshen until the approaching of 
the Sabbath which was appointed, and then 
went over to Torringford. X thought while 
X was travelling, that 1 was going home to 

iNew Jerusalem-to the welcome gate. 

As l walked along X repeated these words, 
s< IVturn have I in heaven but thee ? and 
there is none upon earth that I desire besides 
Mee.” X was received into the church of 
Christ in Torringford, on the ninth day of 
April, in the year 1815. The following is 
the text which the Rev. Mr. M. preached 
.iron : *» I will b> ng.ihe blind by a way that 
they, Knew not; I will lead than in paths that 
they have not known.” 

Previously to the time appointed for the 
admission of Obookiah into the church,,he 
requested Mr. Mills to give him an oppor¬ 
tunity, if lie thought it proper, at the time 
of his admission, “ to speak a few words 
to the people.” j\; v« ills readily consent¬ 
ed—but from son' particular circumstan¬ 
ces, lie did not recollect, at the proper rime, 
Henry's request, and it was neglected. 
After the public services were closed and 



50 


Memoirs of 

Mr* Mills had retired to his study, Henry 
went to him with a broken heart, and said, 
“ You no let me speak, sir—I sorry.” 
Mr. Mills was much affected, but there was 
no remedy. But, said he, What did you 
wish to say, Henry V 9 He replied, «I 
want to ask the people, what they all wait¬ 
ing for ? they live in Gospel land—hear all 
about salvation—God ready—Christ rcbdy 
—all ready—Why they don’t come to 
follow Christ ?” 

Although Henry became a member of the 
church at Torringford, he still continued 
his residence with the Rev.* Mr. H. ajfc Go¬ 
shen. “ Here,”. he says, “ I lived a little 
more than a year, and was treated with the 
most affectionate and kindest treatment. I 
was now taken under the care of the Board 
of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, 
with a view to my future employment to be 

as a missionary to my poor countrymen_ 

who are yet living in region and shadow of 
death—without knowledge of the true God 
and ignorant of the future world—-have no 
Bible to read—no Sabbath—and all these 
things are unknown to them. With them I 
feel and expected to spend the remaining 
part of my days in the service of our glo¬ 
rious Redeemer, if the Almightv should 
spare my life, i often feel for them in the 


Henry Obookiah. 51 

night season concerning the loss of their 
souls, and wish many times to be among 
them before I am fit to come to them—for 
1 long to see them. O that the Lord would 
pluck them from the everlasting burning! 
and that the Lord may be their God and 
may they be his people—and be'made par¬ 
takers of Uie inheritance of the saints in light . 
O what a happy time I have now, while 
my poor friends and relations at home are 
perishing with hunger, and thirsty, want¬ 
ing of Divine mercy and water out of the 
well of salvation. -May the Lord Jesus 
dwell in my heart and prepare me to go 
and spend the remaining part of my life 
with them. But not my will , O Lord, but 
ihy will be done . May J live with them as a 
stranger and pilgrim upon the earth as long 
as I live*: and spend and be spent in the 
service of tlfe Redeemer. May the Lord 
teach me to live in his fear, to do his will 
and to live devoted to his service.” 

The following extracts are taken from a 
letter written by Obookiah whilst residing 
at Goshen : dated 

April 24 , 1815 . 

“ -——, I knew not what was my 

business when at first time I set out from 
home—only a boy’s notion. Because I 



52 


Memoirs of 

have no lather and no mother, I therefore 
thought of it, I must go and see the world, 
and* see what I can find. I never heard 
any thing about Jesus, and heaven, and 
hell. Well, after I heard about these 
things, I heard that Jesus was the Son of 
God, and that he has came into the world 
to save sinners ; the evil spirit then coming 
into my mind, and said that there was none 
neither heaven nor h.ell. i could not be¬ 
lieve it. Sometimes when some good peo¬ 
ple talked with me on this subject, I was 
but just hate to hear it. 

“ * hope that you and I may meet, though 
at present unknown to each* other, in the 
eternal Avorld ; w here many come from the 
cast and from the wjest, and from the north 
and from the south, and sit down together 
in the kingdom of Christ But PdoVome- 
times think often that I shall never see that 
holy and happy world. I am \ery afraid, 
because [ was a' great enemy to God, and 
have fought against his grace and his lov¬ 
ing-kindness towards me. 

“Oh ! my dear friend, do not forget to 
pri)y fpr me before our heavenly Father, 
when you are alone. Pray for me, and 
lor my poov. < - vestrymen, and for others, 
that we may tpe from the wrath to 
come. .Those that have been faithful to the 


53 


Henry Obookiah. 

Lord Jesus Christ, the same shall he saved ; 
and those that have done evil shall coine to 
the resurrection of damnation. 

« There is no great consequence wher¬ 
ever we may he called, if we only keep our 
hearts right before God. We are under 
peculiar obligation to consecrate ourselves 
wholly to the glory of God. But we know 
that our deceitful hearts are apt to run 
down, even as a clock or watch is. A good 
clock will keep good time by winding it up ; 
but if we don’t, it certainly will run down. 
For « this people,” said our Saviour, 
“ draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, 
and honoreth me with their lips, but, their 
heart is far from me.” My wicked heart 
lias been just as those clocks which run 
down very often. But I hope I love the 
Lord Jesus Christ. I am willing to give 
up every thing, both my soul and body, for 
time and eternity. God can do all this. 
“I can do all things,” said the apostle, 
“ through Christ,” &c. 

« My dear friend, do not forget to pray 
for William—pray that he may ever have 
joy in the holy presence of God, and may 
lie be made a good soldier of the cross of 
Christ. There is reason to hope that his 
heart will be changed, for God will have 
mercy on whom he will. I wish that he 


54 


Memoirs of 

could live with me, so that I could do all 
what I can for him. God* in his holy 
providence, has brought him and me from 
the heathen land. Because of the weakness 
of our faith and our selfishness, the gold 
and silver are tempting to the soul. O I 
can sinners expect to walk the golden streets 
without a perfect heart; or how shall we 
live with him without being born again. 

“ There is no way I can see for sinners 
but to go to Christ. “ I am the way, the 
truth, and the life. No man comcth unto 
Jhe Father but by me,” said the Saviour. 
“ At that day shall ye know that I am in 
the Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 
1 he Lord Jesus is all ready and waiting 
for sinners, and inviting them to come to 
him immediately without delay. 

“ May the Lord direct you, and make 
you a faithful laborer in the Lord’s vine¬ 
yard.” 


The following extracts are from a letter 
written to the Rev. E. T. F. at Ncw-Ha- 
ven, dated 

“ Goshen, June 4, i 815. 

“ My dear Friend, . 

“I received your kind letter which 
came into my hand this day with great 
pleasure. You desire me to let you know 


Henri) Obookiah. 55 

the present state of my feelings. I have 
no objection, but I have not much to say 
on this subject. You know when I was at 
Andover, there 1 was in full concern about 
my soul, and knew then that I was but a 
dying worm of the dust, and I knew I was 
poor sinner. And now I lupe that the 
Lord Jesus will be my eternal portion, and 
direct me evermore. I have nothing to do 
hut to be thankful for all the privileges and 
blessings which I enjoy. I know that God 
will have mercy on whom he will—and 
with such promise, our souls must rest in 
God. 

“ 0 my dear friend, do not cease to pray 
for me, and for Tennooe, and for the poor 
ignorant people at Ovvhyiiee : and pray, for 
the poor people in this country as well as 
the heathen, for their hearts are not with 
God, and their ears are much deafer than 
that of the heathen—when they hear the 
word of God on every Sabbath, and can 
read the Holy Scriptures. O may the Lord 
bless us all with an increase of his grace. 
1 hope you will never forget to write to me 
when you can, and tell me what religious 
experience you know 1 am ignorant of. 

“I want to see you about our Grammar;# 

* An Owhybean Grammar which he was employed in 
Snaking with the aid of Mr. F. 


56 Memoirs of 

I want to get through with it. I have been 
translating a few chapters of the Bible into 
the Owhyhee language. I found I could 
do it very correctly. 

“ I hope that the great God will be gra¬ 
cious to you, and make you a faithful min¬ 
ister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. «Walk 
by faith, and not by sight.’ ” 

Extracts from a letter to Mr. S. B. f. a 
member of Yale College. 

“ Goshen, June 9 , 1815 . 

“ My dear Friend , 

“ I improve this opportunity to write 
to you a few lines. When you was up here 
last, you know that I was quite unwell then. 
On that account I could not talk much with 
you when you was speaking on the religious 
subjects. 

“ O my*friend, what is our rule ? Is not 
the word of God, which is contained in the 
Scriptures of the Old and New Testament : 
Certainly it is. But we are apt to hate to 
put away sins, for they are sweeter than 
the grace of God. 

<k O my dear friend, let us continue in the 
hope of the glory of our Redeemer, with 
true hearts, in full assurance of faith. 
Cease not to pray for the fatherless as I am. 
O what a wonderful thing it is that the hand 


Henry Obookmh. 


57 


of the Divine Providence has brought me 
here, from that heathenish darkness where 
the light of .Divine truth never had been. 
And here have I found the name of the 
Lord Jesus in the Holy Scriptures; and 
have read that his blood was shed for many. 
And I remember his o\Vn words'which he 
said, « Father forgive them, for they know 
not what they do.” 

“ Do not forget to mention ms and Ten- 
nooe before our heavenly Father when you 
are alone by yourself, tijat we may not en¬ 
ter into temptation, and that our souls may 
have rest in God. I hope to hear from you 
before long. . When, you write to me, if 
agreeable.to you, L wish you to give me 
some information of religious experience, 
&c. and how a Christian feels, be. be. I 
hope that the Lord will be with you; and 
may your journey through this vale of tears 
be sweetened by the precious religion of the 
blessed Saviour. May He‘Who is'rich in 
mercy, and abundant in grace and good¬ 
ness, bless you with an increase of : is mer¬ 
cy, and make, you a faithful soldier of the 
cross of Christ.” 

In another letter to one of his countrymen 
residing at Boston, lie says, 

.« “ i doubt not that you have seen some 


58 Memoirs of 

people in this country, as much as 10, 20, 
30, 40, 50, and 60 years of age, still neg¬ 
lecting religion from year to year : and ad¬ 
ding sin to sin as long’as. they live. This 
•will not do: for God hatlrsaid, “My Spirit 
shall not always strive with man.” But 
alas, sin is a lovely friend to a sinner. He' 
will not get away from his sins for a thou¬ 
sand worlds. « O ,” sinner, « taste and see 
that the Lord is good,” 

“ Do write me a long letter without de¬ 
lay, and tell me how did God appear to you 
at first, and tell me what is your first ob¬ 
ject if you should return home,” &c. 

The letter which follows was taken from 
the “ Vermont Adviser,” and was written 
to a young gentleman in Middlebury. To 
what extent the language was altered be¬ 
fore it was inserted in the “ Adviser” is 
unknown. 

* “ Goshen, Sept. 25, 1814. 

“ Lear Friend, 

“ It is long since I saw you when you 
had kept Mr. B.’s store at. Torringford: 
you are by no means forgotten. I conclude 
that you are probably in the best place. I 
am contented. Undoubtedly your present 
situation affords the best opportunity to 
pursue your studies and is hoped that you 


Henry Ubookiuh. 


59 


have also good religious instructions and 
cautions. I hope you remember that the 
true friends of God may have -pleasure 
wherever they are, if they make it their 
chief concern to glorify, love, and please’ 
him : but those who do not, have no right 
to expect pleasure any where. In whatever 
place we are, we have much that we can 
and ought to do for God. Our first care 
should be to keep our own thoughts right. 
We should think much on that great and 
holy Being, that formed us ; on his holi¬ 
ness and abhorrence of every sin ; on our 
constant dependence upon him ; how many 
blessings he is conferring upon us, and how 
little we deserve them, and how undone and 
unthankful we are for them ; or our deserv¬ 
ing evil instead of good; and how abomi¬ 
nable we are in his sight, whenever we do 
evil. W r e should think often on death and 
our appearing before the eternal Saviour 
in judgment. We ought not only to read 
the Bible often, but to pray often that we 
may know of the salvation, and understand 
and be assisted to live according to it; and 
this would aid us very much in keeping our 
thoughts. If we exercise sufficient care 
over our thoughts, our outward conduct 
also will be good. But if we employ our 
minds, one moment, on foolish or useless 


60 


Memoirs of 

things, we shall not only offend God 
by that, but we shall be liable to fail into 
outward •sins, and'so endanger our own 
souls, and encourage other in the same evil • 
and their wickedness will encourage other, 
ami so on. We cannot conceive the dread¬ 
ful consequences of one sin, and we are 
very apt bo forget bow prone we are to fall 
into sin. We are very apt likewise to sat¬ 
isfy ourselves with what we intend to do 
hereafter, and to forget our present duty. 
The truth is, all our time is made up of 
present time, and all we need* to care is, 
that we may all the time do the best we can 
for our great Creator* this present minute. 
All that we can possibly do is hut a little ; 
for all we have and all we are is God’s, and 
we can never atone for one of all our sins, 
hut we must trust altogether in the merits 
of Christ. But now my dear friend 1 hope 
you- will strive to improve all your time 
well $ and that may the God will be gracious 
to you ; and make you faithful and useful as 
long as you live here in the world. 

“ I wish you would write to me as soon 
as you can, when you can. I concluded to 
be here with Mr. Harvey this winter j and 
whenever you come this way, I should be 
glad to see you here. Mr. and Mrs. Ilar- 
vey, they are very agreeable and kind, i 


Henry Obookiah . 


{I 

was very much pleased with them. I saw 
your father at Torringford some time ago ; 
he wished me to write to you when I could, 
I told him 1 would. 

“ One thing I must mention to you, that 
is, we must always continue in our prayers 
before our heavenly Father, that we may 
all become followers of those, who through 
faith and patience inherit the promises. 
But now I must close this subject. 

Your affectionate friend, 

Henry Obookiah.” 

In October 1815, Obookiah left Goshen, 
and went to reside in the family of the Rev. 
Mr. Prentice of Canaan. At this period 
the history of In’s past life terminates. He 
commenced writing it soon after he remov¬ 
ed to Canaan, at the request of his instruc¬ 
tor, as a daily exercise. It was completed 
in the beginning of the succeeding year. 
In March be commences a Diary; which 
be continued till the close of the summer: 
when he changed again his place of resi¬ 
dence, went to South Farms, and soon after¬ 
ward to Amherst in Massachusetts. From 
this time the nature of his employment was 
such that the Diary was either suspended, 
or continued only at intervals, and not pre¬ 
served. 


F 


62 


Memoirs of 


The following* are extracts from the 
Diary. 

March 5,1816. This evening I attended 
a conference at the house of Dea. B. It 
was a very solemn time. Many appeared 
to be very serious and attentive ; though J 
was in fear it was not so in the heart. Kev. 
Mr. P. made some observations from these 
words, *• Why sit we here until we die ?” 
By hearing these words my mind was much 
concerned, and 1 felt as though I was still 
enough in my own sin. “ What shall I 
do ?” said l to myself. The answer was. 
work faithfully with your own heart. With 
these thoughts coming into my mind, I 
found peace and joy. O that I might un¬ 
derstand the work of my own heart. 

. 6. I have just now been thinking 

of the prophet Elijah : how he prayed to 
his God, when he went up to the top of the 
Mount Carmel, and how he put his face be¬ 
tween his knees and* prayed to the God of 
Heaven. O, how much better it is to spend 
time now in such a way of praying, than 
to wait until the time of prayer may be 
over. What should hinder the heart from 
being busy in prayer to God secretly, while 
the hands are full of any business what¬ 
ever ? 


Ilenrij Obookiah. 


63 

. 8. This day is very dark. My 

mind has been quite down by reason of my 
barrenness. But Christ lias appeared as 
“ chiefest among ten thousand, and alto¬ 
gether lovely.” In Christ have 1 found 
the light of comfort and joy. Whatever 
joy and comfort I receive from God, my 
heart is bound up with thanks; but at the 
other time I become forgetful; as if 1 was 
carrying away by my own sin, as far as 
where it was not to be remembered what 
God had done for my soul. 

. 9. I have had this morning a sol¬ 
emn visit from two joung gentlemen* (mi- 
known before,) who were of the most pious 
and amiable characters Their conversa¬ 
tions were sweet to my soul. They con¬ 
tinued with me in my room during the space 
of two hours, then we prayed together.— 
Soon they bid me farewell and went. .1 
then returned into my retirement and oflfer- 
ed up thanks to God for such serious and 
solemn conversation. I prayed with a free 
and thankful heart. 0 what a glorious 
time it was ! 1 never prayed to God with 
so full view of God’s goodness as 1 did then. 
It seemed as if God was teaching my wick¬ 
ed heart how to pray. I felt so easy that 
I could not help crying, Lord, Lord, in¬ 
crease my faith. ] continued thus for sev- 




64 


Memoirs of 

eral days, then that dark hour came on; 
though not very dark, for I had a little 
spark of light—and that spark of light was 
given for an answer to such secret prayer 
as I offered up to God in my heart. O that I 
might continually watch in my heart that 
I may not enter into temptation and snare 
of the Devil. 

...... 10. To-day I rejoiced greatly to 

hear many glorious news from almost eve¬ 
ry quarter and town in the state, that many 
sinners were brought to bow to Jesus, and 
many were enquiring for what they should 
do to be saved. 

. 19* I attended this evening a ve¬ 
ry solemn meeting as ever I attended. A 
sermon was preached by the Rev Mr. H. 
from these words : “ The sacrifices of God 
are a broken spirit,” kc. Many appeared 
with a thoughtful and serious look But 
O, may they not be as those hearers who 
hear the words, and after all hide them 
from their hearts, as I do fear there are 
many. 

No doubt but many young people at¬ 
tend frequently such meetings, for the pur¬ 
pose of seeing others: their looks, dress, 
&c. by these their minds are drawn away. 

O how many thoughtless and careless are 
there in the world I Sinners, 



Henry Obookiah . 


t»5 


« You live devoid of peace, 

A thousand stings within your breast. 

Deprive your souls of ease.” 

.23. This morning my friend Thom¬ 
as come to me with a sad countenance, and 
wished that we might pray together in our 
own language. I told him that I had no 
objection—that I would willingly do it.— 
We then prayed.to that Almighty God who 
was aide to help us ; and I believe that our 
prayers were graciously answered. Wo 
offered up two prayers in our tongue—the 
first time that we ever prayed in this man¬ 
ner. And the Lord was with us. 

April 1. This evening my friend Thom¬ 
as and myself conversed about what we 
would do first at our return to our own 
country ; and how we should begin to 
teach our poor brethren about the religion 
of Jesus Christ, #c.: and many other kinds 
of conversation that we thought of. And 
we both thought that we must first go to the 
King; or else we must keep a school to 
educate the children, and get them to have 
some knowledge of the Scriptures, and then 
we must give to them some idea ol God. 
But these thoughts seemed to be blind on 
some accounts—not knowing how to do 
better without God's direction. The most 
thought that come to my mind, was to leave 



66 Memoirs of 

all in the hand of the Almighty God as he 
seeth fit. The means may easily be done 
by us, and all other duties which God com¬ 
mands, but to make all others believe in 
the reality of religion, no one could do it, 
to open blind eyes of sinners, but God on¬ 
ly. He is able i( to bring the blind by a 
way that they know not, and he will lead 
them m paths which they have not known.” 

...... 2. As I was just rising up this 

morning and looked out of my bed room’s 
window, I saw the sun rising in the east, 
(Sabbath) and 1 wondered that my life 
should be kept so safely during the nig!it 
past, and that I was brought to see anoth¬ 
er day of the Son of man. As soon as I 
went to bed my eyes were wide open dur¬ 
ing the whole night. I thought how many 
unready lives were taken before the morn¬ 
ing comes. This made my heart cry, Lord, 
Prepare me, prepare me for death. I spent 
the greater part of the night in secret pray* 
ers in my bed, and found sweet communion 
with my God. « Commune with your own 
heart upon your bed and be still.” 0 that 
the grace of God may be sufficient for me! 
Lord, fill my hungry soul with spiritual 
food. 

. 3. This day I set apart for secret 

prayer, and the Lord was graciously with 




Henri) Obookiah. 


67 


me, and lias given me. some spirit to pray. 
It seemed as if I could not enjoy myself 
better in any worldly conversations thnn I 
did in prayer, i can say as I trust, that 
the spirit of God has been with me this d v. 
God appears to begracious and lovely. Holy 
them art, 0 Lord God of Hosts ! O Lord, 
look down with a pitying eye upon this 
thy servant, whom thou hast brought from 
a heathen land ! Be gracious to all the rest 
of niy heathen brethren who are now in 
this country. Do now, 0 Lord, hear my 
call. Let not the Lord remember former 
sins which were known t< thee. 

.7. This afternoon I attended the fu¬ 
neral of an aged person. Many people at¬ 
tended, and many tears were shed upon al¬ 
most every cheek for the loss of their 
friend. But O weepers, weep for your¬ 
selves, (he was a friend of Christ it is hop¬ 
ed) for he has gone in peace. 

f thought with great astonishment how 
little idea we have of death and eternity. 
Who can stop the approaching of death ? 
May the Lord teach me to know the num¬ 
ber of my days ! Oh ! that the everlasting 
arm may raise my soul from deepest hell; 
and direct my step toward the peaceful 
shore of blessed Eternity ! 

...... 9. To-day is my first year since I 




68 


Memoirs of 

made a profession of religion. I set apart 
this day for prayer, and retur ned thanks to 
Cod for his wonderful grace and kindness 
towards me as a lost sinner. Though how 
little have I done towards him ! how little 
have I done for his glory ! Shall I live to 
see the end of another year ? Lord, in¬ 
crease my faith. 

. 12. To-day the Lord turned me 

to look into my heart, to see whether there 
be any holiness in me. But I found nothing 
but “ wounds and bruises and putrifying 
sores.” I saw my sins were very great, 
and never were known before. 1 had seen 
my own sin before, but the Lord never 
shew me so much as I recollect, to make 
the soul sink in deep sorrow for sin, as he 
did this day. But it was my own blind¬ 
ness too. When I considered my former 
life, and looked into it, nothing but a hea¬ 
vy bundle of sin was upon me. I pray the 
Lord that he may not remember my past 
sin. 0 may not the God of Isaac and Ja- 
c: b hide from the tears of such dying sinner 
as L 

I enjoyed myself much this day in fasting, 
prayer, and supplication. 

. 44 1 have been thinking this day to 

know what is the state of man; whether 
they are pure from all sin :—for last eve- 




Henry Obookiah, 


B9 


iiing T had a dispute with a young man.—. 
He asked in* 1 whether I do believe that we sin 
by words, thoughts and deeds. I answered 
him Yes Certainly we do, unless we take 
heed to our ways—as David speaks for him¬ 
self in.Ps, 39. “ 0 mortal man,” says he, 

“do we then always sin ?” Yes, 1 answer¬ 
ed. The Apostle speaks, “ If we say we 
have no sin we deceive ourselves.” 

O how many w T ays that a creature can he 
deceived! 

. 15. 1 attended a prayer meeting 

this afternoon and a number have been ex¬ 
amined to be brought forward to the Church. 
1 have thong :t a great deal this day about 
my unfaithfulness and ban* nncss since I 
made a profession of religion :—how my 
wicked heart has turned away from trod in 
a most evil and unkind manner. But when 
I consider that I sin against my Maker, I 
always feel sorry; and all sins which I 
commit raise my tears from my eyes : as 
I have this afternoon been weeping very 
deeply because of my sins. Many times I 
am apt to fall into sin ; but if God hears my 
crying for forgiveness, I shall still live de¬ 
voted to him. Is there any thing that we 
can be cleansed by from our sins but the 
blood of the Lamb of God ? No in no wise. 

. 21. O what a solemn meeting to- 




70 Memoirs of 

day at the house of Dea. B. It was a se¬ 
rious and joyful time. It seemed to me 
that the Lord was with us. I took notice 
that almost every person in the room ap¬ 
peared very joyful. Many persons kept 
their heads downwards with tears on their 
faces. We had then neither sermon nor 
any discourse delivered, but many prayers 
were offered up for those who were rolling 
sin as a sweet morsel under their tongue. 
A number of pious men tried to speak, but 
they could not. For the fear of the Lord 
had fell upon them, that they could not fin¬ 
ish their discourse, but to weep. O how 
myself felt then. 1 saw that it was the 
Lord’s work, who hath power to make sin¬ 
ners feel, and to shew himself that he is 
God alone. O that the Lord may carry on 
his work! 

May 5. This day I have attended the sa¬ 
crament of the Lord’s supper. I felt guiN 
ty of my unfruitfulness, and had but little 
faith in him whose blood is drink indeed 
and whose flesh is meat indeed. I could 
not help weeping whilst the minister ad¬ 
dressed those w'ho were to be admitted into 
the Church—warning them to be faithful. 
On account of this warning I could not put 
a stop to my weeping eye—For I felt that I 


Henry Obookiah. 71 

had had a stupid and cold heart, wanting of 
divine grace. 

. 8. I have been reading this mor¬ 
ning the history of pious women, and I was 
very much pleased to see and to know how 
Christians feel. Their employment every 
day was to address their heavenly Father 
in secret, and to read some portion of the 
holy Scriptures. 

......... 15. This day I took a walk for 

exercise at the distance of two or three miles. 
On my way home I met an aged man, un¬ 
known before, who I judge to be about sixty 
years of age. He was travelling on the 
same way that l was, and I thought in my¬ 
self that I would take this opportunity to 
converse with him upon religious subjects: 
as it was my duty, (and as I have done with 
many other unacquainted persons before.) 
As we were walking, 44 What had going is 
this!” said he, 44 l have never known such 
time as this.” With this observation I spoke 
thus—Ought we not to be thankful to our 
Maker for such a season as this, as well as 
we do for the finest weather ? 44 O yes, Sir, 

I think we ought to,” says he, 44 though I 
do not feel thankful as 1 ought.” With 
this saying, I then asked him to know 
whether he was one that was born again of 
the Holy Spirit. To which he replied, 44 O 




7 2 


Memoirs of 


I hope so ; though 1 was one of the sheep 
that was almost gone, forever lost, yet 1 hope 
that 1 am found/’ I asked him whether lie 
ever met with any difficulty or trouble in 
his mind. He answered, “ 0 yes, great 
deal ; but when 1 meet with any trouble, I 
wish'to be alone, and pray to God, and ask 
J i n for sucii comfort as 1 need. Before I 
was brought into lig it 1 thought many times 
that the religion of Jesus, was hard thing to 
seek for—but it was nothing else but my 
own wicked heart. When i came to it in 
mv own heart, i found no holiness at all, 
but all manner of evils are lodged in it.” 

Soon we parted from each ot .er, and we 
both wished to he remembered in our 
prayers. 

June 1. This morning I have been walk¬ 
ing out for some secret duty. As l walked 
through tfie field alone, lo! 1 heard the 
sweet songs of many birds, singing among 
toe branches; for it was a beautiful Sab¬ 
bath morning. While l thus hearked, this 
part of a Psalm came into my soul very 
sweetly— 

“ Sweet is the mem’ry of thy grace, 

My God, my heavenly King. 

Let age to age thy righteousness, 

In sound ot glory sing,*' 

I thought of Christians as soon as 1 


Henry Obookialu 

heard these birds tuning their joyful songs 
around the tree. Christians as soon as 
they leave their fleshly songs, with their 
bodies, in the silent tomb, will be at rest 
beyond all pain, death, sorrow and trouble ; 
and come around their King of glory, and 
tune their golden harps to Immanuel’s 
praise; And then say one to another, 

u Come let our voices join to raise, 

A sacred song of solemn praise,” kc. 

. £6* This evening I attended some 

serious exercises of prayer with a few 
young men of pious character. Five pious 
young men came to our room for this pur¬ 
pose. They appeared to be very much en¬ 
gaged in the cause of the great Redeemer. 
M e spent onr time in solemn prayer for 
two or three hours. I found comfort my¬ 
self easy in every duty which i was com¬ 
manded by my God to do. 

. 23 . I was visited this morning by 

a pious and good Rev* Mr. H. of L. who 
instructed me in a most affectionate and 
tender manner; and has given me some of 
the clearest views of Christian character, 
such as 1 needed. 

i was intreated by this friend of Christ 
concerning my future happiness, and was 
warned to live above this wdrld with hum¬ 
ble and tender heart. But O who can 
G 



'4 


Memoirs uj 

know my own unfruitfulness and vilencss, 
but He who “ searchetli the heart and tri- 
eth the reins of the children of men*” I 
felt in my own heart that I needed the teach¬ 
ing of all the people of God. Many times 
I have thought of myself being deceived, 
because many evil thoughts come into my 
mind and put me out of the right way ; but 
in my secret prayers I have always found 
happy rest to my poor and immortal soul, 
as if 1 was in the right path. O that the 
Lord Jesus, who doth « bring the blind by 
a way that they know not” may be the di¬ 
rector of such blind as 1. 

.24. We have heard to-day much 

good news from every quarter of the coun¬ 
try. A work of grace has been begun in 
many places, and there are hundreds of 
hopeful converts, or newly born by the in¬ 
fluences of the Holy Spirit. O how great 
and how wonderful is the arm of the Lord ! 
reading forth his hand toward sinners, ami 
kindly taking them in his bosom of love. 
But are there not many sinners yet in the 
gall of bitterness and in bonds of iniquity, 
rejecting the free offer of salvation ? Are 
not many opposers yet set against the truth 
of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? O when 
slf.:il these never-dying s< Is find rest I It 
is very strange to me that so many care- 



Henry Obookiah . 


75 


less and stupid sinners never think or have 
any concern for the worth of their immor¬ 
tal souls. O Lord, I intreat thee to look 
down with compassion upon such dying sin¬ 
ners as are here in this land of th Gospel 
light! O save them, 0 Lord God of Hosts, 
save them ! Glorify the riches of thy free 
grace in making them the heirs of thy holy 
kingdom. O glorious Jesus, thou son of 
the Most High, have mercy on the never- 
dying souls of men. Thou canst do the 
helpless sinner good ; for all homage, hon¬ 
our, glory, and worship are due to thee; 
the true promised Messiah and Redeemer 
of the world. Thou canst work among 
sinners, and none can hinder thee. O Lord 
save us or we perish. I am a sinner as well 
as other; I feel myself an unfruitful crea¬ 
ture ; and yet I choose the Lord Jesus for 
my everlasting portion. I have nothing of 
my own to recommend myself to his holy 
favour. All the present that I can make 
unto Jesus is myself. He seeks not mine, 
but me only. 

. 25. Last evening T attended a 

prayer meeting, and enjoyed great comfort 
to my soul. I thought how Christians all 
agree in their feelings toward each other, 
in lovely manner. I once thought while 
we were in the room, in such a little circle 



76 Memoirs oj 

and enjoyed ourselves in conversing alter 
the manner of the flesh? how much happi¬ 
ness will be found at the great court of the 
Almighty, when all the children of God are 
gathered together, from the East and the 
West, and are set down in the kingdom of 
Heaven. What a happy time w ill it be for 
Christians ! 

July 3. My health being weak, I get 
out to walk, and at the place to which I 
caine, 1 found a sick woman lying upon a 
sick bed. She had been in that case for 
p^ht years. When she heard of my beng 
m the house she wished to see me. I con¬ 
versed with her concerning her case ; and 
though she was weak in her body and mind 
she could answer whatever question i put 
to her. I asked her whether she was wil¬ 
ling to leave this world of sin, and to be 
present with her lovely Jesus. She replied 
" 0 1 1 Shall reach that 

peaceful shore where I shall have neither 
sickness nor pain, as I have now.” Before 
1 was about to leave her, she wished me to 
pray with her, and this was done. She 
took hold of my hand and begged me to re¬ 
member her, thus—O my friend, do not 
lorget me in your prayers, and if I do not 
see you again in this life, 1 shall in better 
life than this.” 


Hennj Obookiah. 


77 


.... 17, I have just returned from a 

visit to my friends. As I was walking 
through the woods I came to a house which 
stood at some distance from the town. As 
soon as I was come near the house, I found 
an old grey-headed man, next to the road 
hoeing corn. I saw he was very aged man, 
and I thought it was my duty to converse 
with him. 1 stood by the fence and asked 
him how he did. He answered, *< Well.” 
I asked him whether he was well within al¬ 
so. But he did not understand what I 
mean. (This old man was about ninety 
years of age, and had been living without 
hope and without God in the world ) Im¬ 
mediately I went to the old man, and spoke 
to him in a friendly manner, thus—My 
friend, said I to him, you are a stranger to 
me, and I unto you; and I see that your 
head is full of grey hairs, and no doubt 
your days will soon be over. “ I know 
that,” said the aged man, « so every one 
has got to be as I am.” Well, said I, what 
do you think of the great day of judgment? 
are you ready for that day? “ 0,1 don’t 
know,” said he, 66 I do sometimes think 
that I am too far off for that day.” Why 
do you not now begin to make your peace 
with God, before death overtake you ? said 
I to the old man ; repent and believe in the 
G 2 



7 8 


Memoirs of 


Son of God. Eat the old man seemed to he 
very careless and stupid. I talked to him 
but lie kept hoeing his corn ; and I follow¬ 
ed him to the end of the field, pursuing mv 
discourse. But he seemed to be unwilling 
to hear me any further, and I returned 
thanks to the Almighty God for the oppor¬ 
tunity which I had with this poor old man. 
and bid him farewell. 

babbath afternoon, August 5> To-day I 
felt more anxious for prayer than 1 ever 
did. After I returned from meeting, I en¬ 
tered in my retirement, where I always 
find comfort and joy in my secret prayer 
and supplications before the great Jehovah. 
I now wished to see my friend Thomas, 
wno lived a little apart from me, and 1 set 
out to meet together in prayer for our own 
good. I went and found him reading the 
Bible. I urged him to go up to bis room 
with me and be there a little while; and we 
took a Bible and went up. We spent some 
tmie together m prayer till the sun was 
down. O how good and pleasant it is 
ror brethren to dwell together in unity/* 

Z G b °. th 1 l mt Z a in Payers, two of each. 
Ye m * d ^ Godfop help in the language 
of good old David, “ Search us. O God 
and know our hearts, and try us and know 
our thoughts, and see if there be any wick- 


Henry Obookiah. 


cd way in us, and lead us in the way ever¬ 
lasting.” May the Lord be pleased to lead 
us both in the right way, and not in the 
« way which seemeth right unto a man. 
but the end thereof are the ways of death.” 
We cried to God further, that he would 
teach us his way, in order to walk in his 
truth ; and to unite our hearts both to fear 
his holy name. 

I told my friend Thomas how I felt that 
day, and how much I longed to he with him 
together in prayer for our poor country¬ 
men, as well as for ourselves. We both 
wished to have our little meeting kept up 
until wc should be separated far from each 
other. We wished to have no one know 
it, but to look to God whenever we both 
come together. 

The Diary of Obookiah may not have 
been discontinued here. A considerable 
part of what has been transcribed was found 
upon detached pieces of paper ; and other 
similar pieces may have been mislaid. The 
whole he had begun to copy, but had not 
completed it. 

The following is a selection of passages 
of Scripture made by Obookiah while he 
lived at Canaan, the first letters of which 
spell his name. It is a specimen of his in¬ 
genuity as well as his acquaintance with 
the Scriptures. 


80 


Memoirs of 

“ Ho ! every one that thirsteth, come ye to 
the waters, and he that hath no money ; 
come, buy wine and milk without money 
and without price,”—,[sa. lv. 

* £ Except a man be born again, lie cannot 
see the kingdom of God.”——John iii. 

“ Not ev ^ry one that saith unto me, Lord! 
Lord ! shall enter into the kingdom of 
heaven, but he that doeth the will of my 
Father which is in heaven.”—Mat. vii. 

“ Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed 
of David, was raised from the dead ac¬ 
cording to my Gospel.”—2 Tim. ii. 

" Youn g men likewise exhort to be sober- 
minded.”—Tit. ii. 

“ 0 magnify the Lord with me, and let us 

exalt his name together.”-Psalm 

xxxiv. 

But speak thou the things that become 
sound doctrine.”—Tit.ii. 

“ Only let your conversation be such asbe- 
cometh the Gospel of Christ.”_Phil, i 

“ 0 that men would praise the Lord for his 
goodness, and for his wonderful works 
to the children of men.”—Psalm evii. 

** Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out 
of it are the issues of life.”_Prov iv 

‘ l must work the works of him that* sent 
me while it is day : the night cometh 
m which no man can work.”—.John ix e 


Henry Obookiuh. 81 

“ And they went out and preached every 
where that men should repent.”-Mark 
vi. 

« He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” 
►—Matt. xi. 

Henry Ojiookiah. 

This was found among his papers, and 
the original is in his own hand writing. 

The following extracts are from his let¬ 
ters written whilst residing at Canaan. 

« Canaan, Dec. 1815. 

“ My dear Friend , 

“Your letter I have received, dated 
the tenth of September. It was with great 
pleasure. I shall take your advice in the 
all-important things which belong to me to 
attend to as a professor of religion. I 
know the eyes of the Lord are upon me day 
and night, and beholding all my wicked ac¬ 
tions and motions in every thing which I 
do. O that the Lord would be my help? 
Am I yet in the gall of bitterness and in the 
bonds of iniquity ? I neither do justly, nor 
love mercy as much as T ought, nor walk 
humbly with my God. 

“ The work of grace in the town ot S. 
is still going on very powerfully. By the 


82 


Memoirs of 


3ast account which I Iiave heard, about one 
hundred and forty are in a hopeful state. 
They are now rejoicing in the hope of the 
glory of God. And many others are en¬ 
quiring the way to Zion, crying, “ Men 
and brethren, what shall we do?” In this 
place also, many are in deepest concern 
about their souls. 0 where have sinners 
been so long since they had discovered the 
name of the Saviour, who was crucified up¬ 
on the cross, and yet they have not come 
to him until now? They have known their 
Master’s will, but they have not done it. 
They are wise to do evil, but to do good 
they have no knowledge. O wretched sin- 
ncrs will you come to the foot of the cross 
at this very moment, and ask forgiveness 
of sins? Hark and hear the voice' of him 
that knocketh at the door of everv sinner’s 
heart! “ Behold 1 stand at the door,” &c. 
Christ the Saviour is knocking, saying, 
“ °P cn to me my sister, my love, my dove, 
my undefiled, for my head is filled with 
dew, and my locks with the drops of the 
mght.” 1 cannot help weeping. My tears 
are running down for joy to hear and see 
sinners flocking to the Almighty Jehovah, 
u that all sinners may come to Christ f 


Henry Obookiah. 


83 


' Stop, poor sinners, stop and think, 

Before you farther go ! 

Will you spoil upon the brink 
Of everlasting wo ?” 

“ O that we may stop and think where 
we are, and upon what ground we are 
standing, whether it be holy or whether it 
be unholy, or whether it be our duty to do 
the will of God or not. We now live here 
upon this earth, and how long we shall live 
we know not. Death will soon overtake 
us, for we are not far from it. My dear 
friend, I entreat you to be much engaged 
in prayer for thoughtless and stupid sin¬ 
ners, both in this country as well as in 
other. 

« I would thank you to present my hum¬ 
ble respects to all your family. I hope I 
shall see them, though at present unknown 
to each other, in the^eternal world; if I 
do not in this present world. May God be 
gracious to you all. Remember me in your 
sweet sacrifice of prayer before our Heav¬ 
enly Father. 

Your affectionate friend.” 

The pm eding letter was written to Dea* 
II. of Dauby, in the state of New-York; 
an elderly gentleman who had taken a very 
deep interest in the welfare of Obookiah, 


84 


Memoirs of 

ami had written to him a letter of advice 
soon after he made a profession of reli¬ 
gion. 

That which follows was addressed to Mr. 
E - B-, in the state of New-York. 

Canaan, May 18 ig. 

“Having received yonr most kind and 
affectionate letter a few days ago, it much 
satisfied me. Notwithstanding that you 
are ever so far from me, yeti expect to 
me, t you at the bar of God. O how r glad 
am I to hear from you Ephraim. 1 am 
glad to hear that your mind has been more 
engaged in regard to the subject of religion, 
than when we lived together. If it is so. 
my friend, that you have such thoughts in 
your mind, 1 urge you to be careful, for if 
is an awful tiling to be deceived. Set your 
heart toward Christ,, and in him you may 
find help. Our sins are very great and 
roach over our heads, and there 'is nothing 
wmen can make them smaller or stop them, 
but the precious blood of the Lamb of God. 
who has all power to take away sin from 
the world. The Lord Jesus expressed him 
self thus—«I that speak in righteousness, 
mighty to save.” 

“ You mentioned in your letter that the 
religion of Jesus Christ is glorious privj- 


Henrij Obookiah . 


85 


lege. 0 my friend, it is so. We can say 
or think that his religion is a very impor¬ 
tant thing, if any one should have it, but 
we are not willing to seek for it. If the 
Lord has been pleased to operate on your 
mind by the influences of Ids Holy Spirit, 
as you trust he has, i hope the Lord will 
still continue his work in you through life. 
But let me entreat you to put your whole 
trust in God ; make him sure as your own 
friend, and above all, give yourself entire¬ 
ly into the hands of your Saviour; who 
came to seek and to save that which was 
lost. When you write to me let me know 
all about your feelings. I long to sec you, 
my friend, and all your father’s family r . I 
remember all your father and mother’s 
kindness while I was with them ; though I 
am in fear that I do not feel thankful 
enough to God for it. 

“ if you should ever come to Connecticut 
do (afe some pains to find me where I am, 
for I long to see you with brotherly love. 

“ I would desire your solemn prayer be¬ 
fore your heavenly Father for 

Your affectionate friend. 5 ’ 

To Mr. E. W. of Torringforo. 

“ August 5,181(5. 

My dear Friend, 

«1 hope you will not think it strange 

H 


86 Memoirs of 

that such an one as I should write to you ; 
for 1 am full of concern for the souls of oth¬ 
ers. O that the Lord would direct you in 
the right path—May the Lord teach me 
what I ought to write this day. I have 
heard that your ,sickness is still continuing. 
But O, how is it with you now? Look now, 
my dear Elijah, and see whether you are 
prepared or unprepared, or whether you 
are fit to die or unfit—whether you are the 
Lord’s or not. 0 my friend, consider how 
many are there who have been wheeled 
down to endless torments, in the chariots 
of earthly pleasures; while others have 
been whipped to Heaven by the rod-of af¬ 
fliction. 0 how good had it been for some 
of them if they had never known the way 
of life by the crucified Saviour. We have 
great reason to tremble when the Holy- 
Scripture teaches us that few shall be sav¬ 
ed. Much more when it tells us, that of 
that rank of which we are, but few shall 
he saved : for it is written, “ Many are 
called, but few chosen.” I often think of 
you, my dear friend Elijah, since I heard 
of your sickness. You perhaps sometimes 
think about dying - and what must be your 
end—and how you have misimproved your 
best opportunities, &c. O what a dread- 
iul thing it is to die in a sinful state! My 


Henry Obookiah. 


87 


friend, how do you expect to find joy and 
peace in Heaven if you should die in your 
sin ? How have you neglected the free offer 
of salvation, which is offered to you “ with¬ 
out money and without price Haste, O 
my poor friend, and get up out of your 
sleep of sin and death, and the Lord Jesus 
Christ will give you life, comfort, health 
and strength—.For there is none but Christ 
can do a helpless sinner good. Now, there¬ 
fore, my friend, haste to look to Christ 
with faith, and ask for mercy and forgive¬ 
ness of your sin. I feel for you, my dear 
friend, for the worth of your poor and nev¬ 
er dying soul. O don't refuse tins lovely 
and welcome Saviour any longer:—the 
more yo.u reject him, the more you grow 
worse ; the more you hate him, the greater 
will be your condemnation. O poor Eli¬ 
jah, choose the meek and lowly Jesus for 
your everlasting portion. Consider the 
danger in which you now live upon the 
brink of everlasting woe. Your sickness, 
I fear, will take you away from the world 
into a solemn and silent grave. O Elijah, 
Elijah W. where are you ? Are you wil¬ 
ling to leave this world of sin and death 
and be at rest? Are you willing to die 
now? In time of sickness we ought to keep 
our hearts right towards God, in order to be 


Memoirs of 


8S 

cheerfully willing to die. For “ death is 
harmless to tiie people of God.”—The 
righteous hath hope in his death, but the 
wicked is driven away in his wickedness.” 
Follow not, my dear friend, after the ex¬ 
ample of mankind, but after Christ’s—make 
no kind of excuse, turn unto God and live. 
Be not offended because i have taken this 
opportunity to write to you in such a man¬ 
ner. Let all be taken into serious consid¬ 
eration. It cannot hurt you tny earthly 
friend. And it may keep your heart from 
shrinking hack to consider that death is 
necessary to fit you for the full enjoyment 
of God. Whether you are willing to die 
or not, there certainly is no other way to 
complete the happiness of your soul. The 
happiness of the eternal world of heaven 
commences immediately after death. Now 
can you, my dear Elijah, say, “ I will 
arise and go to my Father and say, Father 
1 have sinned,” &c. O why are you so 
unwilling to accept the free offer of mercy ? 
And why will you still shut Christ out of 
the door of your heart; when he still is 
knocking, and saying, « Open to me my 
sister, my love,” &c. O poor friend of 
mine ! I do not speak of your being poor in 
body, but your soul is poor: wanting of 
the bread of life. This is why I need to 


Henry Obookiah . 


89 


speak of your being poor :—for without the 
love of God in the heart of a man, that man 
is poor. 

“ If you are a friend of Christ, be not 
afraid of death and eternity ; for death can¬ 
not hurt you, nor your soul. Why then 
are you afraid that your sickness is unto 
death ? If you were to die in sin—if death 
were to reign over you “ as a tyrant—to 
feed upon you as a lion doth upon Ids prey” 
—if death were to you to be the prison of 
hell, then you might reasonably startle and 
shrink back from it, with horror and dis¬ 
may. But if your sin has been blotted out 
of the Book of God’s remembrance ; or if 
the Saviour hath begun his good work in 
you, why should you be afraid of being 
taken away from the world ? and why not 
bid welcome to the King of terrors ? My 
dear Elijah, our lives are short, and they 
like the smoke of the fire, are hastening 
away. 

“ Well if our days must fly, 

“ We'll keep their end in sight,” &tc. 

“ Remember, my dear Elijah, that I am 
not the teacher of the heart, nor the judge 
of it. The Lord Jesus is your teacher— 
He can make you feel. He can make the 
blind to see—and the lame to walk—and 
H 2 


90 Memoirs of 

t’ue sick to be healed—and above all, He 
can make you and I happy or miserable in 
eternity. All what 1 have said to you, my 
friend, will be remembered in the day of 
God's wrath. You and I shall both render 
our account to that God who hath made us, 
at the Day of Judgment, for what deeds 
we have done in the body. Whether we 
have done every thing right in the sight of 
Jehovah, or whether we have not. May 
the Lord God of Hosts bless you. May 
Jesus make you faithful unto death, and 
that you may have at last the crown of 
life in the eternal world of glory. 

“ You, O parents of Elijah, you have the 
means of doing good to your own souls— 
to improve your time in the service of God. 
Where then shall you be after the return- 
ing of your bodies to the dust—when your 
bodies shall become food for the worms of 
the earth ? 

“ Brothers and sisters of the sick man— 
Your days will soon be over; and the road 
upon which you are all riding towards eter¬ 
nity soon will be ended. Remember, 0 my 
friends, that the eyes of the Lord are upon 
you all, beholding the evil and the good. 
Your souls are worth a thousand and mill- 
ion times more than such a world as this. 
Be careful lest they be lost in the snares 


Henry Obookiah. 


91 


ami temptations of Satan : for they arc 
many and ready to carry away your souls 
into darkness and despair. O that the 
Lord would smile upon you in pity and 
compassion, and save you from eternal 
death. Look up now, my friends, to Christ 
—which is jour life.” 

The following letter was written to Mr. 
W. C. now a member of Yale College 

“ Canaan, Sept. 7, 1816. 

My dear Friend , 

“ Our interview yesterday was but 
short, and our short conversation with each 
other was sweet to my soul. You request¬ 
ed me to write to you, for which I am now 
taking my pen to begin our correspond¬ 
ence : not because I am destitute of com¬ 
panions here, but for our everlasting good. 
There is one of the best friends who is 
above all earthly friends ; even Christ Je¬ 
sus the Lord. But we are all by nature 
the greatest and strongest enemies to him. 
« All have sinned and come short of the 
glory of God.” We are naturally oppos- 
ers to God, and to the holiness of his na¬ 
ture, and unable to accept of his mercy 
which is offered to us without money and 
without price.” 


92 Memoirs of 

“ I have reason to bless Jesus Christ 
that he hath wonderfully turned my feet 
from the path that leadeth down to an end¬ 
less woe. There is nothing more that I 
can do for him, for his great and wonderful 
work in the soul of such an one as I, than 
to be thankful for all which I now enjoy. 
But this is not all—« Give me thine heart, 

and let thine eyes observe my ways.”_I 

hope that the God of all grace has been 
gracious to you, as he has to me. 0 that 
we both may rejoice with joy unspeakable 
and full of glory here and hereafter. The 
religion of Jesus which we now have em¬ 
braced (as we hope we are passed from 
death unto life) is a strong helper of the 
soul, to help us on to the peaceful shore. 

“ I wish I could express my weak feel¬ 
ings to you, but alas ! I cannot. It is a 
difficult thing to tell you that I love my Ma¬ 
ker more than 1 do any thing else. Truly 
I do not love him enough. I have faith in 
him but a little—but I am sure I wish to 
love him more and serve him better than I 
now d°* 0 what a stupid wretch and hard 

hearted sinner am I! Why, should I have 
been spared so long, while many of my fel¬ 
low mortals are gone over the other side of 
the gloomy graves; and I am yet on this 
side of eternity. G where are those now 


Henry Obookiah. 


93 


who have gone before me ? Remember, my 
dear friend, that we will soon return to the 
dust, and leave this world of perplexity and 
trouble, and all the useless pleasures in it, 
and be for ever miserable, or happy in the 
presence of the King of glory. O how 
happy it will be for Christian souls to meet 
together and uniting their hearts in love at 
that time. 

When shall I reach that happy place, 

And he for ever blest ? 

When shall I see my Father’s face, 

And in his bosom rest?” 

“ It is no matter however long or short 
the lives of Christians are, if their besfmo- 
ments are well improved, in order to meet 
their lovely Jesus in peace whenever they 
are called for. Let us live, my dear friend, 
as a stranger, and pilgrims < n earth—let 
us feel lively in the faith of the Son of God 
—let us both seek for a better country than 
this—let us be faithful and humble believ¬ 
ers of Jesus. 1 think I can truly say to 
my Lord, Lord my body and soul an* in 
thine hands, do with them according to thy 
holy will. Thy will be done and not mine. 
The happiness of this world is nothing but 
a dream. It will soon pass away as the 
wind that blowcth. We must give up all 


94 


Memoirs of 

for Heaven, lest we perish at the presence 
of the Judge. The best present that we 
ought to make to Christ, is to give our 
whole hearts to him—and not “gold and 
frankincense and myrrh,” as wise men of 
the East did. 

“ Ho remember, my friend, those that are 
around you whose sins are unpardoned. 
Do pray for them. Remember my poor 
countrymen, who know not the way of life 
by a Redeemer. Do not forget to pray for 
your affectionate friend, 

“ Henry Obookiah.” 

Toward the close of the year 1816, Hen - 
rv went to Amherst in Massachusetts, for 
the purpose of accompanying the Rev. Mr. 
Perkins, an agent of the Board of Com¬ 
missioners for Foreign Missions, in a tour 
through that section of the country, to soli¬ 
cit donations for the benefit of the Foregn 
Mission School. The success of the solici¬ 
tations was greatly promoted by the pres¬ 
ence of Obookiah. Contributions were 
highly liberal, and often drawn from sour¬ 
ces not before accustomed to yield any aid 
to purposes of charity. 

The interest which lie bad excited to¬ 
wards himself personally is expressed in a 
letter from Mr. Perkins, written soon after 


Henry Obookiah. 


9j 


his death. “ He was much beloved,” he 
says, “ by ail who knew him in this region. 
He had awakened a lively interest in bis 
welfare among them ; and his death has 
cast a gloom over them which will not soon 
be dispelled. His recall to the world of 
spirits is one of those deep things of Prov¬ 
idence which we cannot fathom.” 

A letter since received from the same res¬ 
pected source, contains several facts and 
observations which illustrate his character, 
and evince the peculiar acceptableness and 
influence of his visit in that quarter. 

“ 1 have rarely, if ever, (says Mr. Perkins) 
seen a person who seemed to set so high a val¬ 
ue on time as Obookiah. What others would 
call leisure hours, would be busy hours with 
him. When alone, he was delighted in his 
literary studies. When in company, im¬ 
provement was bis object—and if the con¬ 
versation was not immediately interesting 
to him, ne would take his Pocket Testa¬ 
ment and read, or repair to his study and 
his books. 

“ At a little circle of friends one eve¬ 
ning, he said to me in a whisper, 6 Time is 
precious, here are a few souls going to eter¬ 
nity, ’iis a good opportunity to improve/ 
Just as we were about to retire at the close 
of the evening, he addressed two youth in 


Memoirs of 

the room for a few minutes, on the subject 

of religion, with great apparent effect_ 

Whether the alarm of conscience, which 
he was instrumental of exciting, proved 
lasting or not, 1 have never known. So val¬ 
uable was time in his estimation, that if he 
had passed a day or an hour unprofitably, 
he would speak of if with deep regret. 

“ His humility deserves our notice.— 
One fact will illustrate this feature in his 
religious character. 

“ In visiting different towns, it was my 
practice to gratify the people, by calling on 
Obookiah to address them on the subject of 
Christianity. He was always appropriate, 
solemn, and interesting. Many flattering 
remarks were frequently made to him oil 
that account. But though this was calcu¬ 
lated to foster pride, and inspire him with 

unbecoming confidence, yet it actuallvpro. 
duced the opposite—humility and self dis¬ 
trust. A circumstance took place which 
justifies this observation. 

“ At a village of considerable magnitude, 
after the Missionary service had been per¬ 
formed, the Rev. Pastor of the Church ap¬ 
pointed an evening meeting. Just before 
toe meeting, it was observed to Obookiah, 
that some remarks would be expected from 
him. He modestly declined. The subject 


Henry Obookiah. 


97 


was urged. He said, ‘ I’m a poor hea¬ 
then, I don’t know enough to teach people 
who live in Christian land ’ Being under 
my care, he applied to me to excuse him 
from the service. I replied to him, that I 
believed it to be his duty. The people had 
contributed generously. They were anx¬ 
ious to hear him speak on the subject of re¬ 
ligion. You have always succeeded well. 
And what yon shall say may prove a savour 
of life to some soul. Soon after, as we were 
passing to the meeting-house, observing bis 
extreme reluctance, 1 asked the Rev, Mr. 
B. to urge and encourage him. Many 
things were said to persuade him, but his 
reluctance appeared to be invincible. As 
we arrived at the door, he again fled to me 
for refuge. Said he, ‘ Do excuse me—>1 
can’t say any thing—You can preach—-it 
will do more good.’ I told him I could not, 
as the people would be greatly disappoint¬ 
ed. But when I said this, such had been 
his anxiety, and such his manner of ex¬ 
pressing his feelings? that tears instantly 
started in my eyes, and gladly would 1 have 
preached for his relief. When the proper 
time came, he was called upon to address 
the meeting. He deliberately rose, and 
addressed the people with his usual propri¬ 
ety and seriousness- At the close of the 
I 


93 


Memoirs of 

service, I passed by Iris pew, and invited 
him to walk with me. He was bathed in 
tears. £ did not hesitate about the cause— 
1 tried much to soothe his feelings, but it 
was to no purpose. Mr. B, perceiving them, 
made an attempt to pacify him, but was un¬ 
successful. His soul seemed to refuse com- 
tort. I his was on our way to our lodg¬ 
ings. When we arrived at the bouse,* 1 
mentioned bis feelings to the kind family 
where we were to lodge. Every expedient 
was tried to restore him to his wonted 
cheerfulness. But all our efforts were un¬ 
availing, After about an hour, one of the 
family took a seat near him, with a view to 
divert Ids mind. This attempt was suc¬ 
cessful.—And the first sentence he uttered, 
was, ‘ I’m a poor unworthy sinner—I feel 
as though I was lost.’ His customary 
cheerfulness soon returned, ami many in 
the little circle, who sat a long time sor¬ 
rowing, had their sorrow turned into joy. 

4 * Bible was his best and constant 
companion. He always carried in his pock¬ 
et a Testament, which was presented to him 
by a friend, who is now a Missionary to the 
Heathen. At a certain time he \v r ent about 

ten miles to visit one of his countrymen._ 

In changing his clothes, he left his Pocket 
1 estament. i)i\ his return, he pleasantly 


Ifenrij Ohookiah. 


99 


very 


said to me, ‘ Blind man don’t walk 
safely without his staff,’ 

Obookiah’s visit to this part of the coun¬ 
try was of essential service to the cause of 
Foreign Missions. It has silenced the weak } 
but common objection against attempting to 7 
enlighten the Heathen, that they are too ig- 1 
norant to be taught. This sentiment has 
prevented much exertion. It had a wickedjJP 
origin. We have first enslaved our fellow;- y 
beings, then degraded them by every njten- 
ial service, deprived them of the means of y 
mental improvement, and almost of human & 
intercourse ; and because, under these cir- 
cu instances, people of colour arc devoid of / 
knowledge, we have hastened to the irra- $ 
tional conclusion, that ail the Heathen are ^ 
a race of idiots. Adopting this conclusion, -y 
multitudes are utterly opposed to making ^ 
any attempt to turn them from darkness to 1 
light. Influenced by this opinion, ground- ,/ 
less as it is, no reasonings, or arguments, V 
or motives, which can be offered, arc of any % 
avail. But the appearance of Obookiah r 4 
has done much in this region to wipe olf this 
disgrace thrown upon the Heathen, and to/? 
remove the objection so often made. The yt 


proof he gave of talents, as well as of piety. 
carried conviction to many that the Hea¬ 
then had souls as well as we, and were as 




100 


Memoirs of 


■apable of being enlightened and Christian* 
zed. Acknowledgments to this effect have 
frequently been made to me ; and now in 
the circle of his travels, there is no occa¬ 
sion to combat this objection. 

Another effect produced by his visit to 
this region is, that it has roused the slum¬ 
bering energies of those who have hitherto 
done nothing in the missionary cause. Ma* 
have become interested for the benight- 
eiKjHeathen, and satisfied that the conver- 
-V 81011 them to Christianity is practicable. 
W And though they have never before lifted a 
Sy tinger, or contributed a mite, have now 
V been prevailed on to do something. In sev- 
eral instances, dollars were handed me bv 
Vfc pers* ns who confessed that they had never 
^ done any thing before. This is an effect 
produced, which is not of a transient na¬ 
ture, but permanent. A feeling in the cause 
Vi of missions has been excited, which will not 
Vi soon subside. 

His visit moreover has enkindled aspir* 
> it of prayer and benevolence in the bosoms 
of God’s children, which was very much 
needed. Coldness and a circumscribed 
charity were too apparent. Especially 
were these visible with respect to the Hea- 
4 s then. But now there is evidently an in¬ 
crease of fervency and holy wrestlings in 




Henry Obookiah, 


101 


the addresses of Christians to the throne of 
grace. They intercede for the unevangel¬ 
ized nations as though it was their heart’s 
desire that they might be saved. Their be¬ 
nevolent efforts are more numerous, and 
more liberal. They not only exert them - 
selves in this glorious cause, but they use 
their influence to induce others to come and 
do likewise. They refer them to Obooki¬ 
ah as an instance of the propriety and prac¬ 
ticability of missionary exertion. While 
this instance encourages their own efforts, 
it greatly emboldens them in urging upon 
others the necessity and expediency of con¬ 
stant exertion in the cause of the Hea¬ 
then. 

Such have been the effects ofObookiah’s 
tour in this region. An.d since such are 
the effects, and such was his character, it is 
not surprising that his death is so much la¬ 
mented. Many flattering hopes were exci¬ 
ted in the breasts of his friends here, but a 
righteous Providence has seen fit to blast 
them—But we have a foundation for our 
hopes that cannot be shaken. On this we 
may rest the Heathen cause, and feel se¬ 
cure, while human means and promising 
agents arc swept away.” 

The following letter was written by Oboo- 


102 


Memoirs of 

hiali whilst at Amherst, to his companions 
at South Farms, (Litchfield.) 

Amherst, Jan. l, 1817 . 

44 My Dear Brethren , 

“ 1 lon S to see you all. You may per¬ 
haps be glad to hear from me, and to know 
how I am. I hope you are doing well, both 
in your studies, and your religious exercis¬ 
es of the morning and the evening, which 
is the duty of prayer. 

I have seen one of our own countrymen at 
Enfield, about nine miles from this place. 
He has been in that place for ten years, 
and two years at Boston. Thus, he con¬ 
tinued in this country just twelve years. 
He did come from Owhyhce and also his 
native place was Knihi, (well known such 
place.) From that place Capt. John took 
him on hoard the ship, and brought him 
over here, when he was not but fourteen 
years of age. His native name was JNa- 
blemah-hownah. Since I saw him I could 
converse with him hut little, for he has lost 
the greatest part of our language. But he 
could recollect the names of many things, 
as tar as he was able to describe them to 
me. While I was with him he could not 
keep ],is eyes away from me for wonder 
and gladness, to see such an one who came 


Henry Obookiah. 


103 


from liis own country. I staid with him 
two days at Enfield not Iona; since. I spen¬ 
ded the whoje of my time with him while I 
was there. The first that I did, I took him 
by my side, to converse with him upon 
serious subjects. Bj his own words I 
judged him to be as one who was willing to 
accept of the free offer of mercy, though 1 
fear he may in a time of temptation fall a- 
way, and all that which is sown in the 
heart. O my dear brethren and friends, 
lie needed your prayers. Pray for him, 
that he may be brought to see the good¬ 
ness of the Lord, and that he may be faith¬ 
ful to his own soul. Do not delay your 
prayers to the Almighty God for such an 
one, that is very dear to you. He now 
feels as though he was one of the greatest 
sinners that ever lived. Do you not all feel 
anxious for the soul of your own country¬ 
man, here now in this country ? O that he 
may devote himself to the service of his 
Creator! I observed many times while I 
prayed with him, lie would deeply cry with 
such a dismal gloomy, as if the wrath of 
-tlie Almighty was upon him. I have heard 
last Sabbath noon, by a man who was well 
known to him, that this young man becomes 
more thoughtful ever since I come away. 
If this be the case, I would humbly beg at 


104 


Memoirs of 


the mercy seat for your prayers, that they 
may not be hindered. I shall see him a- 
gain before a long time. He longs to see 


you, 


May God be with you all.” 


Henry returned from Amherst in April 
to South Farms. Here he remained with 
his countrymen, untill the first of May; 
when the school was removed to Cornwall 
the place of its permanent location. 

He now had his mind bent upon becom- 
ing prepared, as soon as practicable, to 
preach the Gospel. He paid particular at¬ 
tention to preaching and made many re¬ 
marks upon the subjects of sermons, and 
the manner of preaching them. 

Some observations upon a common de¬ 
fect in preaching are well recollected. He 
complained of the practice of those minis¬ 
ters, who used such language in their ser¬ 
mons as was unintelligible to most of their 
hearers. Ministers, he said, preached to 
persons of every description; almost all 
were ignorant, very few had learning, and 
if they preach to all the people, they ought 
to preach so that all can understand. They 

* This youth is now a member of the Foreign Mission 
School, and exhibits hopeful evidence of piety The 
impressions made by the conversation of Obookiah were 
never lost. 


Henry Obookiah. 


105 


ought to use plain language, if not, he 
said, “ as well might preach in unknown 
tongue.” Every word, he thought, should 
be plain, for “ people,” said lie, can’t carry 
dictionary to meeting .” 

As Obookiah, at the time of his entrance 
into the schoool at Cornwall, had arrived 
at an age of considerable maturity, it may 
be proper that a more particular descrip¬ 
tion should now be given of his person and 
character. 

He was considerable above the ordinary 
size : but little less than six feet in height, 
and in his limbs and body proportionably 
large. His form, which at sixteen was 
awkward and uushapen, had become erect, 
graceful, and dignified. His countenance 
had lost every mark of dullness; and was, 
in an unusual degree, sprightly and intelli¬ 
gent. His features were strongly marked 
They were expressive of a sound and pene¬ 
trating mind. He had a piercing eye, a 
prominent Roman nose, and a projecting 
chin. 

His complexion was olive, varied equal¬ 
ly from the blackness of the African, and 
the redness of the Indian. His hair was 
black, worn short, and dressed after the 
manner of the Americans. 

In his disposition he was amiable and af 


3 06 Memoirs of 

fectionate. His temper was mild. Passion 
was not easily excited, nor long retained. 
Revenge, or resentment, it is presumed, 
was never known to be cherished in his 
heart. 

He loved his friends, and was grateful 
for the favours which he received from 
them. In his journal and letters are found 
frequent expressions of affection and grati¬ 
tude to those who had been his benefactors. 
To families in which he had lived, or to in¬ 
dividuals who had been his particular pat¬ 
rons, he felt an ardent attachment. One 
of the latter, who had been separated from 
him for a considerable time, he met with 
great delight ; and after tiie first customa¬ 
ry salutations, said to him, « I want to see 
you great while: you don’t know how you 
seem to me : you seem like father, mother , 
brother , all. 9 

In his understanding, Obookiah excelled 
ordinary young men. His mind was not of 
a common cast. It was such that, with 
proper culture, it might have become a 
mind of the first order. Its distinguishing 
traits were sound common sense, keen dis¬ 
cernment, and an inquisitiveness or enter- 
prize which disposed him to look as far as 
his mind could reach into every subject that 
was presented to his attention. 


ic; 


Henry Obo -hi ah. 

By his good sense he was accustomed to 
view subjects of every kind in their proper 
%ht; to see things as they are. He sel¬ 
dom misconceived or misjudged. By his 
companions his counsel was sought, and 
regarded as decisive. He had that clear 
sense of propriety with regard to his own 
conduct and the conduct of others, which 
always commands the respect or excites the 
fear of those who behold it. Had he been 
disposed to cultivate a talent for this pur¬ 
pose, he would have become one of the se¬ 
verest of critics upon the manners and con¬ 
duct of those around him. 

Few persons have ,a deeper insight into 
the characters of men, or have the potter of 
forming a more just estimate of them, by 
their words and actions, thanjic had. Fcv 
are more capable of perceiving the exact 
import of language , or are less iiable to he 
deceived as to its real meaning, by a de¬ 
signed ambiguity of terms. 

Mis inquisitiveness existed in relation to all 
subjects of interest, and disposed him to make 
himself acquainted with every thing that 
was known by others and to discover what¬ 
ever was within his reach. This trait was 
exhibited, especially, in his character as a 
scholar. 

His inquisitive mind was not satisfied 


i 08 Memoirs of 

with pursuing the usual round of study, but 
he was disposed to understand critically 
every branch of knowledge to which he at¬ 
tended. For this reason, his progress in 
his studies was not rapid—-but as a scholar 
be was industrious, ingenious and thor¬ 
ough. His mind was also inventive. Al¬ 
ter having acquired some slight knowledge 
of the English language in its grammatic¬ 
al construction, he entered upon the project 
of reducing to system his own native lan¬ 
guage. As it was not a written lan¬ 
guage, but lay in its chaotic state, every 
thing was to be done. With some assist¬ 
ance he had made considerable progress to¬ 
wards completing a Grammar, a Dictiona¬ 
ry, and a Spelling-Book. 

He had also translated into bis native 
language the whole of the book of Genesis. 

These specimens of his industry and in¬ 
genuity, when seen , administer severe re¬ 
proof to the sloth and dullness of most per¬ 
sons of much greater age, and of advanta¬ 
ges far superior to his own.* 


* In accomplishing (his labour, Obookiah received the 
assistance of the Rev. Mr. F. now Professor of Divinit\ 
in Yale College. I3e had some assistance also from oth 
ers. The manuscripts however, are all his own hand 
writing; and considered merely as proofs of application, 
are greatly to the credit of the industry and enterpriae o { 


109 


Henry Obookiah . 

When Obookiah became a member of the 
Foreign Mission School, he had attended 
to all the common branches of English ed¬ 
ucation. In reading, writing, and spel¬ 
ling, he was perhaps as perfect as most 
young men of our own country, of the same 
age and with common opportunities. He 
wrote a legible, manly hand, and had ac¬ 
quired the habit of writing with considera¬ 
ble rapidity. He had at this time studied 
the English Grammar so far as to be able to 
parse most sentences with readiness. He 
understood the important rules in common 
Arithmetic, and had obtained considerable 
knowledge of Geography. He had studied 
also one book of Euclid’s Elements of Ge¬ 
ometry, and of his own accord, without a 
regular instructor, had acquired such 
knowledge of the Hebrew, that he had been 
able to read several chapters in the Hebrew' 
Bible, and had*translated a few passages 
into his native language. Be bad a pecul¬ 
iar relish for the Hebrew language, and 
from its resemblance to his own, acquired 
it with great facility.* 

one so young, and .uninstructed. They could have cost 
him no less than the constant labour of many months. 

These manuscripts, though now imperfect, will afford 
much aid to future translators and Missionaries. 

In consequence of this resemblance in the structure 

K 


110 


Memoirs of 

The winter before he came to the school 
lie commenced the study of Latin. This, 
lie pursued principally after he became a 
member of the Institution. 

n his manners . 0bookiah was habitually 
grave and reserved. In the presence of bis 
friends however his conversation was often 
sprightly, and rendered particularly enter¬ 
taining by a fondness for ntimor, for which 
he was distinguished. This he oftener ex¬ 
hibited by a quick perception and relis : for 
it in others, than by actually displaying it 
in himself. Yet lie sometimes gave evi¬ 
dence in his own remarks, of possessing no 
small degree of genuine wit. When con¬ 
versing with his companions in their native 
language, he frequently afforded them much 
amusement by the pleasant and humorous 
cast of his conversation. 

The customary deportment of Obookiah 
however, was serious, and dignity striking¬ 
ly aracterized his manners Few young 
men, it is pr sumed, command so much 
respect from persons oi every age and char¬ 
acter. Notwithstanding the familiarity 
which he used with his companions, he 
maintained an influence over them, becom- 

of the two languages, Obookiah found it much Jess diffi¬ 
cult to translate the Hebrew, than the English, into his 
native tongue. 


Henry Obookiah. 


Ill 


ingthe relation of an elder brother, or even 
that of a respected parent. In his inter¬ 
course with them the dignity of his charac¬ 
ter was peculiarly visible. A motion of 
his head often made known to them his 
will, and obtained the compliance which he 
desired. 

His manners had become in a considera¬ 
ble degree refined. A gentleman of res¬ 
pectability who visited Cornwall, and had 
a particular interview witli him, observed, 
that he had met with hut few persons ©f 
any country, more gentlemanly in their 
manners, or intelligent and interesting in 
their conversation. 

Obookiah was a decided and consistent 
Christian. His conduct was habitually un¬ 
der the influence of principles of piety. He 
manifested a strong interest in (he general 
prosperity of religion, and expressed in his 
conversation as well as his letters and dia¬ 
ry, ardent desires for the salvation of his 
fellow-men ; and especially of his country¬ 
men, for whom tie fervently prayed, and in 
whose behalf he often requested the earnest 
prayers of his friends. 

In his writings, satisfactory evidence is 
furnished of his own personal experience of 
the power of divine grace. In these may 
be seen, his convictions concerning the 


112 Memoirs oj 


character of his unrenewed heart ; his 
views of the grace and glory of the Sav¬ 
iour; his entire reliance upon the merits of 
Christ for justification, and the employ¬ 
ments and duties in which he found his on¬ 
ly happiness through the whole course of 
his Christian life. 


Besides this evidence, and that which 
was furnished by his exemplary conduct, 
the following facts will afford additional 
proot of his ardent piety. 

While a member of the Institution at 
Cornwall, lie was in the habit of attending 
a weekly meeting with his companions on 
Saturday evening ; in which, in addition to 
the usual exercises of a religious meeting 
he questioned them individually concerning 
the state of their minds, and addressed to 
them such observations as the particular 
situation of each seemed to demand. Oth¬ 
ers in a few instances have been present, 
and have been greally surprised both at 
the ability which he possessed of eliciting 
the feelings of his companions, and at the 
pertinency and wisdom of his remarks. 
J?®. °" c ® observed to a friend, whilst in 
• a t l ’ ! 1 , llave many times so much en¬ 
joyment in the night I cannot sleep,” 

At another time, « when I have done 


Henry Obookiah. 113 

wrong, lam always sorry—I am so sor¬ 
ry r 

He excelled and delighted in prayer. Tn 
a letter from the Rev. Mr. Perkins, who 
often witnessed his performance of this du¬ 
ty in public assemblies, and had also a fa¬ 
vorable opportunity of becoming acquaint¬ 
ed with his secret devotions, it is observed, 
“ Prayer seemed to be his daily and night¬ 
ly business: in this duty he not only ap¬ 
peared to take great delight, but he was 
pertinent, copious, and fervent. It was al¬ 
most impossible to hear him pray and not 
be drawn into a devotional frame. I have 
repeatedly witnessed great numbers in a 
meeting melted into weeping, and in one 
instance the greater part of the assembly, 
and several sobbing, while he stood before 
the throne of God, filling his mouth with 
arguments and pleading for Christian and 
Heathen nations 

“ He remarked to me one morning as we 
were journeying, that the night previous 
he had spent chiefly in prayer for a youth 
who happened to reside in the family where 
we had been kindly entertained.” 

He was once requested by a clergyman 
to attend a religious meeting with him, and 
make such observations as he thought pro¬ 
per to the people. Previously to the hour 
K2 


114 


Memoirs of 

appointed for the meeting, he proposed to 
the minister that they should retire, and 
spend a short time in supplicating the bles¬ 
sing of God upon the duties they were about 
to perforin. 

Obookiah considered it as his duty, and 
made it his habitual practice, to converse, 
as he had opportunity, with persons whom 
lie supposed to be destitute of grace, and 
urge upon them the necessity of immediate 
repentance. In several instances his con¬ 
versation has made impressions which have 
terminated in an apparent conversion of the 
soul to God. 

After Henry’s return from Massachusetts 
lie maintained a correspondence with seve¬ 
ral persons of respectability, residing in the 
different parts of the country which he had 
visited. A very fow only of his letters 
have been obtained ; and parts of these are 
of so local and private a nature as to pre¬ 
vent their being inserted with propriety in 
tins volume. 


Extracts from two of them will follow._ 

The first was addressed to S. W. Eso. of 
Greenfield. 1 


a 


“ CoitNWAxii, June 16 , 1 & 17 . 
Mij dear Sir, 

“ I take my pen to embrace this 


Henry Obookiah. 


115 


opportunity in writing. Indeed, on this 
very day l received a most affectionate let¬ 
ter ; and when I come to unseal it, lo! it 
was from my dear beloved friend, Mr. S. 
W.! How, or what an answer can I give 
for it? My dear friend, I received your let¬ 
ter with a thankful heart. I rejoice to hear 
that you have still a lively thought concern¬ 
ing the great things of eternity. O that 
our thoughts and hearts may he united to¬ 
gether in the fear of God, and in love of 
the Lord Jesus—whom you spoke well of. 
Indeed, my dearest friend, we are in a great 
debt, both to God and to his Son Jesus 
Christ. We have owed them ten thousands 
of talents ! and alas ! how would we repay 
for all ? Notwithstanding the greatness of 
our due to God for all his goodness and 
kindness towards us, yet we can repay it, 
by giving up ourselves to him : for lie does 
not wish for ours, but us: for thus it is 
written, “My son give me thine heart, and 
let thine eyes observe my ways.” Your 
observations which you observed in this 
your letter, are just as the thoughts of a 
true and humble believer in God—and as 
one that fears God. Surely it is as you 
say, that the supreme love and affection 
must we give to him, who is the Lord over 


116 


Memoirs of 

all and blessed for ever. Pray that these 
thoughts may not be mislaid in our hearts. 

“ Since I received your letter, my com¬ 
panions had the curiosity for knowing the 
person from whom the letter was sent. I 
told them from one of my friends at the 
place where I was kindly treated by them. 
They were very much pleased with the let¬ 
ter—supposed that you was a friend of 
Christ, and a true believer in God, by what 
you spoke well, both of Christ and his char¬ 
acter. To whom I answered that I had a 
strong love for you, and hope that you may 
be a fellow-traveller through the journey of 
this wilderness world. 6 that we both 
may meet in the presence of God in the eter¬ 
nal world above, where sin will never enter 
there. Let us not neglect the duty which 
we owe to God to love him with our hearts, 
souls and strength—and let us pray without 
censing . 

“ With this I must leave you, my dear 
friend, in the hand of God. Look to him 
to receive instruction and to know his holy 
character.” 

The following letter was written to A. S. 
Esq. of Amherst, dated 

“ Cornwall, Aug. 15, 1817. 

“ My dear Friend , 

“ Your le tter of late gave me a great 


Henry Obookitih . 


117 


satisfaction, And since I have received it, 
I do now think that I was in a fault for not 
giving you an answer for it sooner; hut be 
so kind as excuse me. You know not what 
joy and pleasure I had since I received 
your letter. O what happy news ! It gives 
me a suitable joy to hear that the Lord has 
visited Amherst once more, with the influ¬ 
ences of his Holy Spirit, and that he has 
already plucked as brands from the burn¬ 
ing, some of those who once had been desti¬ 
tute of the Grace of God, and yet are now 
bowing down to the sceptre of King Jesus. 
O that the professed followers of the meek 
and lowly Jesus, be more and more lively 
in this most glorious work of our blessed 
Redeemer. Let every Christian be more 
and more deep sensible that the glory of 
every good work here below must come 
from God ; as we read that he is the giver 
of every good gift , and every perfect gift is 
from above. AVe cannot expect to see a 
single soul comingoutof the kingdon of Sa¬ 
tan, into the kingdom of Christ, unless we 
see one or more faithful and humble Chris¬ 
tians, running forward in spirit without a- 
ny least of doubt, nor fail from doing what¬ 
ever duty God required of them. 6 let us 
all entreat of the Lord that he would show 
unto us of his holy character a perfection, 


118 


Memoirs of 


that we may be able to love and to serve 
him more and far better than we now do. 
Let us have a more realizing sense of our 
ingratitude and unfruitfulness in the eyes 
of the all-seeing God ; let us be faithful in 
our duty, and may the great grace of God 
be sufficient for us all. 

<# I have not heard any news since I 
came away from Amherst. The only in¬ 
formation that I can give is the present sit¬ 
uation of this Institution, under which we 
are placed. Our school is going on very 
regularly, and the scholars are making 
some progress in ther studies. One of our 
members is become a born in Christ, since 
he has been here, and 1 trust there is no 
small degree of happiness. He is now re¬ 
joicing in the hope of the glory of God. O 
that the Lord would be pleased to bless this 
school I humbly beg of your prayers for 
this school, that each member of it may 
become a member of the household of God. 
Please to remember me to Mr. and Mrs. 
P and family^ Tell Mr. P. that I shall 
write to him as soon as I can, but 1 dare 
not make any promise to set a time when. 

Yours, H. Obookiah. 

About the commencement of the year 
1818, Obookiah became seriously indispos- 


119 


Henry Obookiah. 

ed, and was obliged wholly to abandon his 
studies. A physician was called, and spee¬ 
dy attention paid to his complaints. It 
was soon found that his disease was the ty¬ 
phus fever ; and a thorough course of medi¬ 
cine was commenced, which after one or 
two weeks appeared to check the progress 
ot the disorder, and confident expectations 
were entertained of his recovery. Hope 
continued to be cherished Until it became 
evident that his strength was Wasting, and 
that his constitution, naturally strong, was 
giving way to the violence of the disease, 
which had taken fast hold of him, and had 
not been essentially removed. Notwith¬ 
standing the unremitted care and the skill 
of his attending physician, and the counsel 
of others called to consult with him, the 
kindest and most judicious attentions of the 
family into which he had fallen, and the u- 
niversal solicitude of his surrounding 
friends, he continued to decline, until the 
night of the 17th of February; when his 
happy spirit was released, ami his joyful 
anticipations realized, that he should soon 
reueh h/.s heuvenly Bcither*s house • 

In this last lingering sickness, the Chris¬ 
tian character of Obookiah was advanta¬ 
geously exhibited. His patience, cheerful¬ 
ness, resignation to the will of God, grati- 


120 


Memoirs of 


tude for the kindness of his friends, and be¬ 
nevolence, were particular subjects of no¬ 
tice and conversation to those who attend¬ 
ed him during this interesting period. His 
physician said of him that “ he was the 
first patient whom he had ever attended 
through a long course of fever, that had not 
in some instances manifested a greater or 
less degree of peevishness and impa¬ 
tience. 

Mrs. S. in whose family he was confin¬ 
ed, and who devoted her attention exclu¬ 
sively to the care of him, observed, that 
« this had been one of the happiest and 
most profitable periods of her life—that 
she had been more than rewarded for her 
cares and watchings by day and night, in 
being permitted to witness his excellent ex¬ 
ample, and to hear his godly conversation.’’ 

By this friend a part of his observations 
and answers, particularly within a few of 
the last days of his sickness, were commit¬ 
ted to writing; and are as follows : 

To one of his countrymen, as he entered 
the room in the morning, after he had pass¬ 
ed a night of suffering, lie said, 66 1 almost 
died last night, it is a good thing to be 
sick, S——, we must all die—and ’tis no 
matter where we are.” Being asked by 
another*, “ Arc you afraid to die?” he an 


Henry Obookiah* 1£ i 

swered, “ JVo, I (tm not.” A friend said 
to him, « I am sorry to find you so very 
sick”—lie replied, “ Let God do as he plea¬ 
ses” 

Mrs. S. frequently inquired of him if he 
would hear a few verses in the Bible. “ 0 
yes !” was his answer, “ ’tis good ”—and af¬ 
ter hearing, lie \youfd turn his eyes to Hea¬ 
ven, apparently in prayer. After a season 
of great distress, he broke out in an audi¬ 
ble voice, and said, « If we put our trust in 
God, we need not fear.” Frequently, when 
free, from pain, he inquired tor some one 
to pray with him ; but often before he could 
be gratified bis pains returned, and he for¬ 
got his request. The person whom he 
most frequently called upon to pray with 
him was his friend Thomas. They often 
prayed together, alone:—as they had done 
for years. Tn the language of his fe¬ 
male friend,Their souls appeared to knit 
together like those of David and Jonathan. 
Henry always appeared composed and ap¬ 
parently very happy, after a season of 
prayer with Thomas. In a season of faint¬ 
ing I left the room for a moment, to get 
some water, returned and found them weep¬ 
ing in great distress, supposing the time of 
separation had now come.” Upon his en¬ 
quiring for the Doctor, to whom he ap- 


Memoirs of 


m 


peared greatly attached. Mrs. S. said to 
him, « Henry, do you depend upon your 
physician:"” “ Oh ! you don’t know”, said 
he, « how much I depend upon the great 
Physician of the soul ” He enquired, 
“ Does the Doctor say I shall get well r” 
It was answered, “ He thinks it is un¬ 
certain :” to which he**said, God will do 
what is right—God \vill*fake care of me.” 
He observed to Mrs. S. “ it is a fine plea¬ 
sant morning.” She said to him, “ You are 
glad to see the light of the morning, after a 
dark distressing night.” He replied, “ On ! 
some light in the night—some tight of God” 

“ After a season of distress for two hours, 
he appeared perfectly happy—he looked out 
of the window hi3 eyes appeared fixed on 
some delightful object. I enquired of him, 
“ Of what are'you thinking, Henry f”—. 
“ Oh ’ 1 can’t tell ijou all” said he, « Of 
Jesus Christ .” 

After sleeping for some time, he prayed 
very fervently, in these words, « G Lord, 
have mercy on my soul—Thou kuowest all 
my secret sins—Save me for the sake of Je¬ 
sus Christ, our Lord and Saviour—Amen.” 

He said to one of his countrymen, who 
had been a faithful nurse to him, “ I must 
eat or 1 can’t live”—and then enquired of 
him with anxiety,« Have you cat breakfast. 


Henry Obookiah. 


123 


W- i How thankful you ought to be 

that you have streright, and can eat-” Soon 
he raised his ands and said, “ Oh ! how I 
want to see Owhyhee ! hut I think l never 
shall—God will do right—he knows Wnat is 
best" —and burst into a flood of tears “ W 

-, if you live to go home, remember me 

to my uncle.” 

To dear H. he said, « l am thinking most 
of the time, how good God is—how kind to 
me,” His companions were mentioned. 
He said, <* They are all very good; they 
have done a great deal for me. But they 
must be good for themselves too.” 

« He appeared very affectionate to all 
especially his countrymen. He insisted on 
someone of them being \ith ; im continual¬ 
ly ; would call very earnestly for them if 
they were out of his sight; and would be 
satisfied only with this, that they were gone 
to eat or to rest”. To one of them he said 

« vV-, 1 thank you for all you have done 

for me; yo have done a great-deal; but 
you will not have to wait on me much more, 
I shall not Jive.” To another, “ My car 

friend S-, you have berti very kind to 

me; 1 think of you often; I thank you ; 

but I must die G-, and so must you. 

Think of God G-, never fail ” To an¬ 

other, “ You must stay; perhaps 1 finish 


Memoirs oj 


124 

oft' this forenoon. How much God has done 
for me and for you.!” 

The day before he died, “ after a dis¬ 
tressing night, and a bewildered state of 
mind, lie appeared to have his reason per¬ 
fectly, and requested that his countrymen 
might be called.” After they came in he en¬ 
quired several times for one of them who 
was absent, and for whom lie had no hope ; 
and said, “ I have not seen him much—1 
shan’t see him—I want to talk to him.”—” 
When the rest bad seated themselves around 
his bed, he addressed them most feelingly in 
his native language, as long as his strength 
would permit. As much of the address as 
could be recollected, was afterwards writ¬ 
ten in English by one of his countrymen, 
and was essentially as follows 

My dear countrymen, I wish to say 
something to you all—you have been very 
kind to me—I feel my obligation to you—- 
I thank you. And now, my dear friends, 
I must beseech you to remember that you 
have got to follow me. Above all things, 
make your peace with God—you must make 
Christ your friend—you are in a strange 
land—you have no father—no mother to 
take care of you when you are sick—but 
God will he your friend if you put your 
trust in him—He has raised up friends 


Henry Obookiah• 


125 


here* for you and for me—I have strong 
faith in God—I am willing to die when the 
voice of my Saviour call me hence—I am 
willing, if God design to take me. But I 
cannot leave you without calling upon the 
mercy of God to sanctify your souls and fit 
you for Heaven. When we meet there we 
shall part no more. Remember, my friends, 
that you are poor—it is by the mercy of 
God that you have comfortable clothes, and 
that you are so kindly supported. You 
must love God—I want to have you make 
•vour peace with God. Can’t you see how 
good God is to you .^God has done great 
deal for you and for me. Bemember that 
you have got to love God, or else you per¬ 
ish for ever. God has given his Son to die 
for you—I want to have you love God very 
much. I want to talk with you by and by 

_my strength fails—I can’t now—l want 

to sav more”- 

This is probably hut a part of what was 
spoken, and that imperfectly translated.— 
The address, under the circumstances in 
which it was made, was affecting beyond 
description. The weakness of Obookiah, 
which was such that it was with difficulty 
that he could utter an audible sound 5 the pe¬ 
culiarly affectionate and eamf st .tones ot his 
voice,the voice occasionally faltering in death; 
L 2 


na 


,Memoirs of 


his companions sitting around him, with 
broken hearts—some of them almost unable 
to support their grief—the address being 
continued until his strength was entirely 
exhausted, rendered the scene literally 
overwhelming—Loud sobbing was heard 
throughout the room ; and from persons lit* 
tie accustomed even to weep. 

After Henry had ceased to speak, one of 
his countrymen, at his request, communica¬ 
ted in English, to those of his companions 
who were not able to understand the Owhy - 
hte language, such things as Henry had pre¬ 
viously committed to him for that purpose. 

An hour or two after this, when Obooki- 
ah had obtained a little rest, his country¬ 
man, who had been absent during the ad¬ 
dress, coming in, he said to him, « Sit 

down G-, f have been talking with the 

other boys—They have been very kind to 
me—I. can’t pay them—but the Lord Jesus 
has enough and to spare—not money nor 

wine—he will reward them. You, G-■, 

as well as I are a poor boy; you have no 
father nor mother here. God has given us 
good friends, and you must love him and 

serve him G-; and when we be departed 

here, we may praise God for ever. Wc 
must all die. Doct. C. cannot save ns when 
we are sick unto death. You and I are sin- 


Henry Obookiah , 


m 

ners. May the Lord Jesus have mercy on 
our poor souls—I must rest.” 

To a son of the Rev. Mr. S. who came to 
his bed-side, and after looking at him, was 
about to withdraw, he said, “ Wait—wait 
•—I wish to speak to you. P— — , you 
have got to be a great boy—you have been 
to school a great deal. Remember you 
will be examined at the Day of Judgment, 
for your improvement.” To a friend, he 
said, “ My faith holds out.” To another, 
« How soon shall 1 be taken away r” It 
was answered, «pretty soon.” He was 
asked, « if you could have your choice, 
would you choose to live or to die ?” He 
replied, I do not know ; I wish to live to 
do good ; if it were not for this, I do not 
wish to live another moment.” And added, 
with much apparent grief, “ I’ve lost my 
time — I’ve lost my lime” To another 
friend, he said, “ / have no desire to live , 
if I can enjoy the presence of God , and go 
where Christ is.” Looking down at his feet, 
which bore evident marks of approaching 
death, he cried out, “ Oh, Mortality /” His 
physician requested him to take some med¬ 
icine which was disagreeable to him ; lie 
said, “Wait, wait, Sir, till to-morrow 
but soon consented, and said, “ perhaps 
there will be no to morrow.” The eve- 


128 


Memoirs of 


ning before bis death, the Rev. Mr. Mills, 
whom lie always called “Father,” came 
in to see him. He looked at him very 
wishfully, and said, “ Will you pray, Sir, 
before we part r” lie listened to the pray- 
er with fixed attention, and when it was 
closed, said, as he had done in every in¬ 
stance before, “ I thank ijov , Sir 99 — and this 
with a sweetness of voice, and an expres¬ 
sion of countenance, which none can con¬ 
ceive but those who witnessed. 

As death seemed to approach, Mrs. S. 
said to him, “Henry, do you think you 
are dying ?” He answered, “ Yes ma’am” 

and then said, “Mrs. S. I thank yon for 
your kindness .” She said, “I wish we 
might meet hereafter.” lie replied, “I 
hope we shall”—and taking her hand, af¬ 
fectionately hid her farewell . Another 
friend taking his hand, told him that he 
“must die soon.” He heard it without 
emotion, and with a heavenly smile bade 
him his last adieu. 

He shook hands with all his companions 
pjesent, and with perfect composure ad- 
dressed to them the parting salutation of 
his native language, “ Alloah o’e ”—)/« 
love be with you. J 

But a few minutes before he breathed his 
last, his physician said to him, “ How do 


Henry ObookiaL 


129 


you feel now, Henry ?” He answered, 
* ( Very welt—I am not sick—I have no pain 
I feel well” TIic expression of his coun¬ 
tenance was that of perfect peace. He now 
seemed a little revived, and lay in a com¬ 
posed and quiet state for several minutes. 
Most of those who were present, not appre¬ 
hending an immediate change, had seated 
themselves by the fire. t No alarm was giv¬ 
en, until one of his countrymen who was 
standing by his bed-side, exclaimed, « 0- 
bookiafi 9 s gone." All sprang to the bed. 
The spirit had departed—but a smile, such 
as none present had ever beheld—an ex¬ 
pression of the final triumph of his soul, 
remained upon his countenance. 




DELIVERED AT THE FUNERAL OF 



A NATIVE OF OWHYHEE, 

AND A MEMBER OF THE 

FOREIGN MISSION SCHOOL 

IN 

CORNWALL, CONNECTICUT, 
February 18 , 1818 . 


BY LYMAN BEECHER, A. M. 
pastor of a church in ljtchfield. 


PUBLISHED BY NATHAN WHITING, 
Agent of the Foreign Mission School, 


S. CONVERSE, PRINTER. 









SWSUS10X. 


PSALM XCVII. 1, 2. 

The Lord reigneth let the earth rejoice > let 
the multitude of the isles be glad, thereof < 
Clouds and darkness are round about Inm: 
righteousness and judgment are the habi¬ 
tation of his throne . 

This language, highly figurative, is em¬ 
ployed to describe the mysterious events of 
the Providence of God. It represents the 
Most High as moving onward to execute 
his purposes, surrounded by clouds and 
impenetrable darkness ; and teaches us that 
his ways are not as our ways, nor his 
thoughts as our thoughts : that he governs 
the world in a manner above our compre¬ 
hension, and veils his designs in such ob¬ 
scurity that none by searching can find him 
out: and yet that his administration is no 
less an object of confidence and joy. t an if 
we knew the particular design ot each event. 
M 


4 Sermon preached at the 

Though clouds and darkness are about his 
path, let the earth rejoice: Jet the multi¬ 
tude of the isles be glad, that the Lord 
reigncth, for righteousness and judgment 
arc the habitation of his throne. 

When, however, particular events of 
Providence are declared to be mysterious, 
it is not intended, that Revelation does not 
shed such light upon the darkness as that 
we may perceive, in some instances the im¬ 
mediate, in others the more remote, and in 
all the ultimate design of God in what he 
does. 

The meaning of the text is, that Provi¬ 
dence, in itself considered, is often totally 
inexplicable, and that had we no means but 
the dark event, from which to infer the de¬ 
signs of God, we should often be involved 
in impenetrable darkness. 

It is proposed in this discourse to notice, 

I. Some of the dispensations of Provi¬ 
dence, which are in themselves considered 
mysterious. 

II. Some of the reasons why, notwith¬ 
standing the light which revelation affords, 
they still appear mysterious. 

L I am to bring into view, some of the 


Funeral of Henry Obookiah. 


5 


dispensations of Providence which arc, in 
themselves considered, mysterious. And. 

0 ' 

1 . The existence of natural evil is a 
mysterious event. 

How easy it would seem to be to prove, 
from the perfections of God, that no suffer¬ 
ing can be permitted to exist in his domin¬ 
ions. He is infinitely benevolent, wise and 
powerful. He made all things to illustrate 
his glory, which consists in benevolence, 
and can misery, produced or permitted, il¬ 
lustrate benevolence ? Cannot infinite wis* 
dom plan a system wliicSi shall include en¬ 
joyment only, and infinite power carry into 
effect the designs of infinite benevolence 
and wisdom for the production and perpe¬ 
tuity of unmingled good ? 

How irresistible the conclusion would 
seem to be, that no evil can be suffered to 
exist under the government of God; and 
yet bow fallacious the conclusion. 

God is benevolent: He made the world, 
and governs it, to illustrate his benevolence: 
And still the earth is a vale of tears. 

2 . The existence of moral evil is an event 
yet more mysterious than the existence of 
natural evil. 


6 Sermon preached at the 

God is holy, and he commands all his 
accountable subjects to be holy. He loves 
holiness, and he abhors sin and was able to 
prevent its existence, lie could have for¬ 
borne to create whom he foresaw would re¬ 
bel • or he was able to keep them from fal¬ 
ling. But he did not do it. Abhorring 
sin with all his heart, and able to keep it 
out of his dominions, he permitted it to 
enter. 

3 . The successful opposition to the Gos¬ 
pel, which God has permitted, is mysteri¬ 
ous, 

AYe should conclude that the benevolence 
which had produced an atonement sufficient 
for all men, would make the application of 

the remedy commensurate with the disease; 
and that the tempter from the beginning 
would have been cast into the bottomless 
pit, and all mankind, in all ages, from their 
earliest years, reconciled to. God. 

Instead of this, the God of this world has * 
reigned in the hearts of the children of dis¬ 
obedience, and carried his plans of opposi¬ 
tion, at times, almost to the total extinction 
of the Gospel. 

At the period of the deluge, one family 
only remained for God, while through the 


Funeral of Henry Oboikiah . 7 

earth every imagination of the heart of man 
was only evil continually. 

At the calling of Abraham, the effect of 
the miraculous destruction of man by the 
flood had ceased, and all, with a few excep¬ 
tions, had relapsed again into idolatry. In 
Egypt, the church was threatened with ex¬ 
termination, alike by her own declension, 
as by the hand of despotism. And in the 
land of Canaan, what reiterated apostacies 
to idol worship took place ; until ten tribes 
out of the twelve went into irretrievable 
revolt; while in the remaining two, the 
light of life did but just glimmer in the 
socket, until the Messiah came. At the in¬ 
troduction of Christianity, what formida¬ 
ble opposition was made to the kingdom of 
Christ; and though at length his cause 
seemed to triumph, how soon by the in¬ 
strumentality of Mahomet and the Pope, 
did Satan regain his lost dominion over 
man. 

The reformation was a glorious event: It 
enlightened and emancipated half Europe. 
But where is the light which once shone in 
the reformed churches ? Succeeded, in some 
instances, by Papal darkness, and in many 
instances succeeded by the disastrous twi¬ 
light of Unitarian philosophy; while few, 
comparatively, have watched and kept their 
M 2 


'$ 


Sermon preached at the 


garments clean, and their lights trimmed 
and burning. 

“ VYide is the gate and broad is the way 
that leadeth to destruction, and many there 
he that go in thereat: Strait is the gate 
and narrow is the way that leadeth to life, 
and few there he that find it,” is a concise 
description of what has yet been. 

4 . The prosperity of the wicked and the 
afflictions of the righteous, have always 
been mysterious events. 

God is holy and just, and it would be 
natural to expect, therefore, that he would 
govern the world in such a manner as 
should display his approbation of the right¬ 
eous and his abhorrence of the wicked. In¬ 
stead of this, the wicked more frequently 
than the righteous, have been raised to 
power, honor, and wealth. They have 
been the oppressors, and the righteous the 
oppressed—the persecutors, and the right- 
eons the persecuted. To all the ordinary 
evils of life the righteous have been expos¬ 
ed in common with others; and besides 
t hese, to all the peculiar calamities of per¬ 
secution. 

It was this view of the prosperity of the 
wicked and the afflictions of good men, 


Funeral of Henry Obookiah . 0 

which produced the mental conflict and dis¬ 
tress recorded in the seventy-third Psalm, 
and which the instructions of the sanctuary 
alone could remove, 

5 . The premature death of the pious and 
the useful members of society, while the 
profligate and mischievous are permitted to 
live, is a mysterious providence. 

Edward the VI. pious, learned, exempla¬ 
ry, and disposed to favor the Reformation, 
which God also intended to accomplish, died 
at the age of sixteen, and opened the way 
for the bloody Mary to ascend the throne. 
The irreligious and dissipated Charles II. 
lived to the age of fifty-four, to corrupt the 
nation by his pestilential example; and 
Voltaire, boasting that he would extirpate 
the Christian religion, and devoting his 
uncommon resources with uncommon activ¬ 
ity to that end, reached the advanced age 
of eighty years; while Spencer, prepared 
for pre-eminent usefulness in the Church of 
God, was cut off at the age of twenty-one 
In the premature death of the ministers 
of the Gospel especially, the Most High 
seems to counteract the providential indica¬ 
tions of his own will. 

By the rapid population of our country, 


10 Sermon preached at the 

the distribution of Bibles, the labors of 
Missionaries, revivals of religion, and the 
efforts made to evangelize the world, a great 
and increasing demand is made for minis¬ 
terial labor. The cry, « give us ministers,” 
becomes more importunate every year. In 
this emergency, we should expect that the 
Most High would regard with peculiar fa¬ 
vor the life and health of his ministering 
servants 5 that none would be arrested by 
sickness or cut off by death, in the course 
of preparation : that none just entering the 
field of labor, would drop into the grave ; 
none be sequestered by ill health 5 and none 
be dismissed from their toils, till the ener¬ 
gies of life had been exhausted in his ser¬ 
vice. 

Instead of this, wc perceive no discrimi¬ 
nation, unless it be that the lives of minis¬ 
ters arc more precarious than those of other 
men. In his mysterious course, the Most 
High cuts down the youth in the midst of 
liis preparatory studies, or when just en¬ 
tering the field ; others fail in the midst of 
their days ; and multitudes, long before age 
lias enfeebled the mind, or paralized the 
arm 5 and still the irreligious are permit¬ 
ted to live, by their scoffs and pestilent ex¬ 
ample to obstruct on earth the work of sal¬ 
vation. 


Funeral of Henry Obookiah . 1 I 

II. I am to consider some of the reasons 
why, notwithstanding the light which reve¬ 
lation affords, some of the ways of God still 
appear mysterious. 

There are two general considerations 
which render the providence of God myste¬ 
rious ; the one, resulting from the consti¬ 
tution of things, and the other, from inat¬ 
tention to the revealed exposition which the 
Most High has given of his ways. 

In the constitution of the Divine admin¬ 
istration, the following things render his 
ways mysterious. 

I. The comprehensiveness of the Divine 
plan. 

We form our expectations of what the 
Most High will do, as if he had only this 
world to govern, and all the effects of his 
administration were confined to time; and 
were this the fact, the events of his Provi- 
dence would doubtless be vastly different 
from what they are. 

But lie upholds and governs, it may be, 
millions of worlds besides this, and the con¬ 
sequence of his administration here may, 
and probably will affect, all his dominions 
throughout eternity. His ways are ever- 


12 


Sermon preached at the 


lasting, and the consequences of his domin¬ 
ion without end. 

The events which we witness, are, of 
course, parts only of a series of events, 
which commenced their course before we had 
being, and which will hold on their course, 
in the relation of cause and effect, for 
ever. 

The wisdom of each event, does not con¬ 
sist in itself, merely as an insulated event, 
or in its immediate consequences, as sub¬ 
jected to human inspection, but in its con¬ 
nection with antecedent and subsequent 
events, in its connection with the whole 
plan of Jehovah, and in its aggregate influ¬ 
ence through eternity. 

But this extended influence and connec¬ 
tion, can be known only to him who inhab¬ 
ited eternity. 

2. The distance of providential results, 
which take place in time, from their caus¬ 
es, renders the Providence of God mysteri¬ 
ous. 

We arc ever disposed to look at the im¬ 
mediate consequences of things, and to re¬ 
gard the ways of God as plain or obscure, 
as they accord with, or contradict, our ex¬ 
pectations. Whereas, many of the most 


Funeral of Henry Obookiah. 


IS 


important results of an event of Providence 
to-day, may not come to pass in a century, 
or thousand years. 

The ten tribes were dispersed S000 years 
ago, and the Jews almost 2000 ; and yet, 
a most important result of these events, is 
to be accomplished by their restoration and 
its sanctified efficacy in the conversion of 
the world. 

The Greeks were raised by the Provi¬ 
dence of God to great scientific eminence. 
But events existing long since the extinc¬ 
tion of their glory, announce an important 
end, for which, in the Divine purpose, they 
were thus exalted. 

It was the scientific light of Greece, that 
blazed upon the empire of Rome, glimmer¬ 
ed through the dark ages, hurst out again 
at the Reformation, and now illumines the 
page of the Bible translator, and sanctified 
to holy uses, shines more and more to the 
perfect day. 

5. The contrariety between the imme¬ 
diate and remote consequences of an event 
or course of dispensations, renders the 
ways of God mysterious. 

The immediate consequence may be ca¬ 
lamitous, and the remote effect joyful; and 


14 


Sermon preached at the 


the immediate consequence may be joyful, 
and the remote consequences calamitous. 

No affliction is for the present joyous, 
but grievous ; but it produces often, the 
Xruitsof righteousness and peace. 

The prosperity of wicked men is for the 
present to them an auspicious event; but, 
the latter end of it is destruction. 

Jacob in his disappointment, cried out, 
“ All these things are against me,” when his 
sorrows were preparing for him the over¬ 
flowing cup of joy And the wicked, while 
they rejoice in the beneficence of heaven, 
are filling up the measure of their sins, and 
fitting themselves for destruction. 

4. The most high accomplishes also such 
a multitude of ends by the same event, that 
bis Providence is dark, often, from our see¬ 
ing but a small portion of the ends which 
he brings to pass by it. 

There is such a connection between the 
natural and moral world, and such an influ¬ 
ence of moral agents one upon another, that 
every motion of the Divine hand produces 
effects in all durations. 

W hilc millions sleep, how many holy and 
unholy actions are suspended But let the 
sun, by the omnipotence of God, be made 


Funeral of Henry Obookiah . ] 5 

to rise, and how many myriads of percep¬ 
tions, and thoughts, and motives, and mor¬ 
al exercises, and accountable actions, good 
and bad, will come into being as the conse¬ 
quence. 

The moral exercises and actions of the 
civilized world, are effected extensively by 
the providential event of peace or war; an 
event decided often by the violation of a 
single individual, occasioned perhaps, by 
some single circumstance. Every wind 
that blows, and every w ave that rolls, beais 
prosperity to some, and adversity to others, 
and produces an indefinite variety of moral 
exercises and actions, whose influence will 
be felt in all directions. 

The death of every individual prevents 
an innumerable-multitude of events, which 
had come to pass if he had lived, and occa¬ 
sions an 'eqpal number which had not come 
to pass, had he lived. . 

Had Bone parte died in the cradle, it had 
been regarded as an ordinary event. But 
the continuance of his breath has agitated 
thd world. Had he gained the battle of 
Waterloo, and preserved his empire, that, 
too, had changed the tide of events through¬ 
out eternity.*# * 

5. Our incapacity to determine what will 
N 


16 Sermon'preached at the 

be even the more immediate consequences 
of an event,'renders the Providence of God 
often mysterious. 

The conseqcnces of providential events 
depend, to a great extent, on their moral 
influence upon free agents; and though it 
might be # expected, that .experience had 
taught us to infer the effect from the cause, 
in reference to mind as well as matter; 
facts evince the contrary. The reason is, 
that unforeseen events are always thrusting 
themselves in, and changing the premises. 
Allow the maxim in reference to mind as 
well as matter, that the same causes, in the 
sjpwe circumstances, will produce the same 
effects; this only lays a foundation to infer 
what the effects will he of an event of Prov¬ 
idence upon minds, provided all the exist¬ 
ing circumstances are known, and remain 
unchanged; . 

But all the existing circumstances of a 
single mind are never known perfectly for 
a moment, hut by the Omniscient; and all 
the existing circumstances at a given mo¬ 
ment, remain not as they arc for a day, or 
an hour. The motives involved in a course 
ol Providence, are endlessly, diversified, 
and are constantly changing; and their 
complex influence is constantly producing a 


Funeral of Henry * Obookiah . 17 

correspondent modification of human exer¬ 
cise and action. To decide then, exactly, 
what the effect of a Providence will be, we 
must not only know perfectly the endless di¬ 
versities of the human mind, but that end¬ 
less diversity of modifying influence which 
mingles with the event. JBut this no finite 
mind can foresee. 

No man can predict, in the morning, ev¬ 
ery thing which himself will do, or form a 
plan* with such fixed purpose, as that unex¬ 
pected events will not modify his course of 
thought and action. Much less can he 
foresee the* events which will betide mil¬ 
lions. and modify endlessly the effects on 
other minds of any given providential dis¬ 
pensation. 

This necessary ignorance of the future 
consequences yf events, as they will effect 
the mind of man and modify the result of 
existing circumstances, is the cause of per¬ 
plexity and. disappointment to*statesmen, 
and will prevent for ever what may be ter- 
med strictly political science. . 

What politician, for example, could fore¬ 
see the spilling of a little wine upon the fa¬ 
vourite of Queen Ann, by the Dutchess of 
Marlborough, and the peace with France in 
•her extremity, which that event' is said to 
have occasioned* Indeed, Sir William .Tern- 


18 Sermon preached at the 

}>le lias observed, that the consequences oi' 
the prominent political events in Europe, 
have in no instance, within his knowledge, 
accorded with the predictions of politicians. 

The late William Pitt, endowed with un¬ 
common political sagacity, formed two gi¬ 
gantic coalitions, to check the power which 
threatened to .subjugate the world : each of 
which, though wisely conducted, were 
dashed in a moment, and augmented the 
power they were intended to limit. And 
still how blind was he to futurity ? He did 
not perceive that these splendid victories of 
Bonaparte were the high road td ruin, and 
that the very greatness of his power w ould 
occasion his speedy destruction. 

He felt as if all was lost, and died ex¬ 
claiming, Oh my country ! when her deliv¬ 
erance was at hand. 

The sale of indulgences dried up the re¬ 
sources it was intended to augment, and 
the blood of the martyrs nourished the seed 
it was intended to extirpate, and augmented 
the harvest it w as designed to prevent. 

The printing of cheap tracts for infidels, 
for gratuitous distribution, to expel the 
Gospel from the world, has given rise to 
Tract Societies and Bible Societies, by 
which infidelity will be expelled from the 
world, and the earth be filled with the 
knowledge* of God. 


Funeral of Henry Obookiah, 19 

Tlie death of great and good men may a- 
waken the fears and excite the prayers, and 
increase the responsibilities, and augment 
the exertions, of so many, as that the a- 
mount of useful exertion shall even be in¬ 
creased by these seemingly calamitous e~ 
vents. 

The efforts in the land of our fathers to 
enslave the conscience, have produced in 
the New World liberty of conscience ; and 
the measures adopted to secure conformity 
to the established worship of England, have 
produced there and here, an extended and 
perpetuated non-conformity. 

The burning of the Serampore printing 
establishment, increased the notoriety of 
the institution, and interested the sympa¬ 
thies and secured the friendship, and pray¬ 
ers and charities of millions, even to the 
augmentation of its resources. 

But another, and chief occasion of per¬ 
plexity, with respect to the proceedings of 
God, is, our not regarding and constantly 
realizing the revealed ends, subordinate, 
and ultimate, of his government below. 

The world is, in fact, in a state of rebel¬ 
lion against God : his law regards prima¬ 
rily the heart, and with the heart no man 
by nature obeys the law ; and without the 
heart, actions, though conformed to its re.- 
N 2 


20 


Sermon preached at the 


quirements, arc not regarded as obedience. 

One object, therefore, of the Divine gov¬ 
ernment, is to illustrate the character of 
man; to bring out his heart, and collect 
practical evidence of his entire depravity. 

It seems to be the will of God, that mor¬ 
al character, as it exists in the heart, shall 
be illustrated by action. From this rule 
he does not exempt even himself. lie 
could declare by word his benevolence: he 
has done it: but he chooses to display it by 
action. He could, as the Searcher of hearts, 
announce, and his word has announced, the 
total depravity of his subjects on earth. 

Hut what lie can see intuitively, his sub¬ 
jects can sec only by* evidence ; and since 
man is depraved, it is his purpose that the 
evidence of the fact, to created minds, shall 
not rest on his declaration only. Hence he 
withholds divine restraint, and permits free 
agents to act out their hearts ; and the re¬ 
sult is, that by deeds they corroborate the 
Divine testimony, that ail have gone out of 
the way. 

And now it ceases to be so marvellous, 
that all flesh have been permitted to cor¬ 
rupt their way before God, nr that idolatry 
lias been permitted to darken and torture 
mankind, and JVlahomet to extend Ids em¬ 
pire of delusion, and the man of sin to heal 


21 


Funeral of Henry Obookiah. 

flic deadly wound which the beast experien¬ 
ced in the overthrow of Paganism. Foras¬ 
much as men were in fact enemies to God, 
and did not like to retain him in their 
knowledge, God gave them up to vile affec¬ 
tions, to prove by deeds what no other ev¬ 
idence could so fully establish, 

it is another object of the Divine gov¬ 
ernment to exhibit practical evidence of the 
malignant and incorrigible obstinacy of sin. 

God sees it as it is in its nature : but that 
bis subjects may see it, he permits sin to 
act itself out. . . 

lienee the successful opposition permitted 
to be made to his cause. He has enkindled, 
and kept alive hitherto, just light enough 
of holiness in this world, to call forth prac¬ 
tical evidence of the strength of man’s ma¬ 
lignity against it. He could have bound 
kings in chains, that they should not take 
counsel against the Lord to break his bands 
and cast his cords from them ; and he could 
have expelled Satan ages since from the 
earth, and ended his temptation of man and 
his reign in the hearts of the children of 
disobedience. 

But in that case wicked hands had not 
slain the Lord of Glory, and by doing it 
furnished demonstration of the murderous 
malignity of man’s enmity to God ; and 


Sermon preached at the ' 22 

had the power of God, in the application 
ol the atonement, been commensurate with 
its merits and sufficiency to save, how 
could the incorrigible obstinacy of sin have 
been illustrated as it is now illustrated by 
those who refuse life, and will die in their 
iniquity. The preaching of the Gospel to 
those who reject it takes off the cloak, and 
exhibits that obstinacy of heart, which in 
time and through eternity sees and hates 
the Father and the Son. 

Another object of the Divine government, 
is to illustrate the beauty of holiness. 

In accordance with this object, he places 
his people in such circumstances of tempta¬ 
tion and sorrow as shall occasion practical 
evidence of the efficacy of holiness to resist 
temptation, to endure affliction, and give 
joy in tribulation. 

He therefore affords no pre-eminence to 
his friends in point of worldly accommoda¬ 
tion, and that the difference between them 
and the world may be manifest, he chasti¬ 
ses and scourges them, in some instances, 
even more than he does the incorrigibly 
wicked. 

To bring out the tried faith of his peo¬ 
ple which is precious in his sight, he con¬ 
ducts them through much tribulation to his 
kingdom, that their confidence in him and 


Funeral ojHenry Obdokiah. 23 

their resignation to him, and that their hu¬ 
mility, and meekness, and patience may ap¬ 
pear. 

He would also purify his children and fit; 
them for Heaven : and for this purpose he 
often heats the furnace and applies the rod. 

We are inclined to feel as if it must be 
the sole purpose of God to make his people 
happy in time ; whereas it is, to a conside¬ 
rable extent his object to make them, un¬ 
happy ; by their trials to make them shine 
as lights in the world, to wean them from 
the world -and-to prepare them for glo¬ 
ry. It is, also, a revealed object of 
the Divine administration below, to cause 
men to ’feel their dependence upon God. 
This, it is the constant propensity of man 
to overlook. A little strength tempts him 
to set up for independence ; a little success 
to repose confidence in his own wisdom, 
and to eulogize his own goodness. God 
condescends to employ his friends in his 
work ; but so prone are they to self-corn *., 
placency and self-sufficiency, that he can 
employ them successfully, but a little while 
without exposing himself to robbery and 
them to self-destruction. He must, there¬ 
fore, occasionally dash the earthen vessel 
in which he puts his treasure, and break 
the instrument he condescends to use, lest 



24 tiermon preached at the- 

the axe should boast itself against him that 
heweth therewith, or the rod snake itself 
against him that liftetli it up; and the les¬ 
son of disappointment must be repeated 
from age to age, to teach iiis wayward chil¬ 
dren to realize “ of whom, and through 
whom, and to whom, are all things.” 

Finally, the Providences of God are often 
dark b cause we do not keep in view his 
ultimate end in all that lie does. 

It is the ultimate end of God in all his 
works ‘to illustrate his glory. But his glo¬ 
ry is his power, wisdom, and goodness. .If 
then it be his object to display power, it is 
not so wonderful that he should unchain a 
world of madmen, and suffer if to rage 
against him, and rush on the bosses of his 
buckler. If it be his'object to display his 
wisdom, we may perceive a reason why he 
has permitted the wicked to take counsel 
against the Lord, and to carry their plans 
for the destruction of his cause to the con¬ 
fines of success. He takes the wise in their 
own craftiness, turns their councils into 
foolishness,’and carries head-long their best 
concerted plans. 

If to illustrate his justice or his mercy be 
his object, then we might expect to see the 
crimes to be punished or forgiven, develop¬ 
ed, that the severity of his justice, and the 


Funeral of Henry Obo Mali. 25 
' 4 •“ \ *" * ' . 

riches of his grace, may be appreciated by 
all bis subjects ; and if lie would aston¬ 
ish us by.his patience an,d condescension, 
in what manner could these attributes be il¬ 
lustrated mo e strikingly, than by delaying 
for ages, the punishment of. nations, and 
from year to yea, that of individuals, while 
his sun shines and his rain descends upon 
them, and the earth multiplies his munifi¬ 
cence, and pours a profusion of blessings 
upon the disobedient and unthankful £ 

Inferences. 

i. The Providence of God is not to be 
regarded as a moral law, or rule of ljfe. 

From its very nature, it cannot be a 
rule of life. It is the course of the Di¬ 
vine conduct in the administration of his 
government on earth; whatever he does, 
or for wise reasons permits to be done. 

But it cannot be our duty were it possi¬ 
ble, to do every t iing that God does, much 
less to do every tiling which he permits to 
be done, and yet whatever comes to pass in 
time, is considered in the Bible as being in 
such a sense a part of the Providence of 
God, that if it be auspicious, it creates an 
obligation of gratitude, and if inauspicious, 
an obligation of resignation to bis providen^ 
tial will. 


■>6 Sermon preached at the 

Beside, the Providence of God does not 
possess the requisite properties of a moral 
law or rule of life. 

A.law to be obligatory must express in¬ 
telligibly the will of the lawgiver concern¬ 
ing the conduct of subjects. But the Pro¬ 
vidence of God makes no such intelligible 
disclosures, either of his, character, or will, 
as shall answer daily ,• and amid all the di¬ 
versities of circumstance in which we-are 
placed, the purpose of a plain and practica¬ 
ble rule of conduct. Clouds and darkness 
are round about him ; none, by searching 
his Providence can k find out his will as*a 
moral rule. The laws of no government 
can be correctly and amply inferred, mere¬ 
ly, from the general course of the adminis¬ 
tration of the government; much less, can 
the will of God, as a rule of life, be inferred 
from an administration so extended, and so 
perplexed by inscrutable mysteries and con¬ 
trary movements, as in the Providence of 
God. 

• It has been supposed by some, that the 
established connection in the Providence of 
(?od between virtue and happiness, and sin 
and misery, furnishes an intelligible indica¬ 
tion of the Divine will as a rule of life. 
But to make the will of God apparent in 
this manner, success and happiness must 


Funeral of Henry Gbookiah. 27 

attend so invariably what he commands, 
and disappointment and misery what he 
forbids, as to leave no room for mistake. 

But there is in the constitution of Provi¬ 
dence, no such marked discrimination be¬ 
tween good and.evil, as the immediate con¬ 
sequences of human action, as right or 
wrong, but rather such a total want of dis¬ 
crimination asjustifies the inspired declara¬ 
tion that 44 one event happeneth unto all 
that 44 the race is not to the swift, nor the 
battle to the strong, neither yet bread to 
the wise, nor yet riches to mem of under¬ 
standing, nor yet favor to men of skill, but 
time and chance happeneth unto all.” Such 
want of discrimination as prompted the de¬ 
sponding exclamation, 44 Surely I have 
cleansed my heart in vain and washed my 
hands in innocency.” Many indeed are 
the afflictions of the righteous, while the 
wicked are not plagued as other men.—• 
Twelve hundred and sixty years did the 
witnesses prophesy in sackloth, 'while the 
tabernacles of robbers prospered, and the* 
proud were called happy, and they that 
tempted God were delivered. 

The precepts of a law must also precede 
its'sanctions, and be intelligible without 
them; but if the good or evil attendant on 
actions be the only indication of the Divine 
O 


28 Sermon preached at the 

will, the reward and punishment precede 
the precept, and from these only do we 
learn what the precept is. But did the 
Pro vidence of God indicate plainly and uni- 
, versaity his will, inasmuch as it does it by 
its sanctions only, it wopld not in that case 
be Hie rule of duty, but merely the medium 
of revealing it. 

But it may be demanded perhaps, is not 
the Providence of God in fact regarded as 
a rule of life ? Do we not appeal to provi¬ 
dential admonitions and indications of du¬ 
ty ? Do we not even say, that the Provi¬ 
dence of God makes it our duty, to do or 
to abstain from doing things ? 

We do indeed use such language, but ne¬ 
ver with exact propriety ; and yet in refer¬ 
ence to circumstances which render it, per¬ 
haps, sufficiently intelligible. 

Ability and opportunity to accomplish an 
action, are essential to tlife existence of mo¬ 
ral obligation to do it. Now the Provi¬ 
dence of God may supercede our ability to 
do-what God has required, and in that case, 
may cancel our obligation. It may also 
restore our ability, and in that case may 
create obligation, not directly, by cancel¬ 
ling and re-enacting law, but indirectly hv 
taking away, and restoring our ability or 
opportunity to obey. 


Funeral of Henry Obookiah . 29 

The command, six - ays slialt thou labor, 
is of universal obligation. But sickness, a 
providential event, suspends the obligation 
and tbc restoration of health, a providen¬ 
tial event, restores the suspended obligation 
by the restoration of ability to labour. 

The great Apostolic commission, “ Go 
ye out into all the earth and preach the gos¬ 
pel to every, creature,” brings a universal 
obligation upon pastors * and churches, .to! 
propagate the gospel. But when a church 
is so persecuted, or so poor, as to be unable 
to do any thing, the obligation ceases ; but 
is renewed again by a change of circum¬ 
stances, which bring with them rest and re¬ 
sources. In this imperfect sense only, does 
the Providence of God make it our duty to 
do or not to do a thing. The obligation is 
always contained in some law, antecedent¬ 
ly in being ; and the Providence of God' 
only modifies our duty, by modifying our 
ability and opportunity. 

The view we have taken of the Providence 
of God, illustrates the necessity of a revel¬ 
ation, and the importance of extending it 
to all mankind. 

A revelation is needed to declare the be¬ 
nevolence of God and the immortality of 
the soul; to reveal the laws of his govern 


.30 Sermon preached at the 

merit with their appropriate sanctions; to 
announce to sinners a way of pardon which 
shall deliver from punishment and from 
sin; to explain the mysteries of Provi¬ 
dence; to allay the fears of superstition, 
and inspire confidence in the ways of God, 
and resignation to his will; and to perpet¬ 
uate an authorized systein of instruction, 
which shall render revealed truths efficient 
* principles of action. 

The man who denies the importance of 
knowledge on these points, is a madman 
and not to be reasoned with. 

Infidels assert, indeed, the sufficiency of 
nature’s light, The volume of nature, they 
say, is open, and plain, and ample. Let 
them point us, then, to unequivocal evi¬ 
dence on its pages, of the Divine benevo¬ 
lence, arid bring to light the immortality of 
the soul. Let them make us acquainted 
with the will of God and its sanctions, and 
answer the question, « How can man be 
just with God,” or cease from Sin ? Let 
them by nature’s light, dispel the darkness 
about his path and explain the deep myste¬ 
ries of his way ; how natural evil can have 
place in a plan of perfect’ benevolence, and 
moral evil in a government administered by 
perfect holiness. 

The book of nature is a part only of God’s 


Funeral of Henry Obookiah, 31 

whole plan : the mere alphabet of the vol¬ 
ume, compared with what is yet to come ; 
and who, from the scattered letters and dis¬ 
connected words, can read the history of 
eternity, and see the relative wisdom of his 
administration. Reason without revelation 
is the powerless eye of infancy, gazing upon 
impenetrable darkness. The actual state of 
the heathen world confirms our theory ; 
mankind without a revelation, never have 
understood from the Providence of God 
alone the great points of his character, law 
and gospel. All heathen lands are at this 
day, without God and without any correct 
system of worship or morals ; or appropri¬ 
ate means of sanctification or pardon.— 
They afford no evidence of holiness such as 
qualifies men for heaven, hut rather une¬ 
quivocal evidence of the unbroken dominion 
of sin. 

They are terrified by the character, and 
corrupted by the example, and destroyed by 
the worship, of impure and sanguinary di¬ 
vinities. They are tormented by their own 
vices, by their religious worship, and by the 
vain fears of superstition. The Gospel is 
the only remedy which God has provided, 
and the exertions of those who are blessed 
by it, are the only ordinary means he con- 


32 Sermon preached at the 

descends to employ to extend it to the desti¬ 
tute. 

3. Temporary disappointments, and great 
trials in our attempts to extend the Redeem¬ 
er’s kingdom, furnish no evidence that our 
ways are not pleasing to God, or that we 
shall not ultimately prosper. 

The temporary success of the wicked is 
no proof that the Most High approves of 
their ways, or that they shall ultimately 
prosper ; on the contrary, we know that 
the triumphing of the wicked is short, and 
that by prosperity, they are only set on 
slippery places, to be cast down as in a mo¬ 
ment. 

But it accords with the past analogy of 
the Providence of God, and with the char¬ 
acter and state of man, that he should try 
the faith of his people, and humble their 
pride and cause them to feel their depen¬ 
dence, and cry unto the Lord, before lie 
consummates their benevolent desires. 

He intended to give the primitive Chris¬ 
tians a complete victory over Pagan Rome ; 
but what fiery trials and protracted opposi¬ 
tion did lie first permit. 

He intends to put an end to the delusions 
of Mahomet, and to the empire of the man 


Funeral of Henry Obookiuh. 33 

i»i sin : but what obstacles have intervened, 
and still remain, baffling the efforts, and de¬ 
ferring from age to age the hopes of the pi¬ 
ous. 

He had determined that the Islands of 
Otaheite and Eimeo, should receive his law, 
but not till twenty years of faith and pa¬ 
tience had prepared the Missionaries, and 
the Christian world, to feel that the change 
was accomplished, not by human might, but 
by the Spirit of the Lord. 

It was the purpose of God to give to our 
Missionaries in the East a firm establish¬ 
ment, but not till their patience had been 
severely tried, and we had been brought to 
put our trust only in the Lord. 

You have perceived, doubtless, that this 
discourse has been conducted with a parti¬ 
cular reference to the occasion which has 
convened us in this place. 

The death of Henry Obookiah, is one of 
those ways of God, about which are clouds 
and darkness. 

Y e did not expect it, and we should not 
have ordered events thus, to glorify God, 
and extend his cause. 

We thought, surely this is he who shall 
comfort Owhyhec. We saw so plainly the 
hand of God, in bringing him hither ; in his 
instruction, his conversion, talents, and 


34 Sermon preached at the 

missionary zeal, that like Samuel, when he 
saw the eldest son of Jesse, we were pre¬ 
pared undoubtedly to say, “This is the 
.Lord’s annointed.” But all our hopes of 
his agency, in the Ovvhyhee Mission are 
dashed. His work is done : Those feet will 
not traverse the shores of Owhyhee, that 
tongue will not publish salvation to those, 
for whom it uttered so many supplications. 
We behold the end of his race, and bury 
with his dust in the grave all our high rais¬ 
ed hopes of his future activity in the cause 
of Christ. 

And to some it may seem, as if God were 
frowning upon this Institution, and were 
warning us, after so much needless expense, 
and labour lost in the education of this 
youth, to cease from our vain expectations 
of sending the Gospel to Owhyhee, and give 
up our labour of love. 

But we do not thus interpret the voice of 
his Providence which speaks to us this day, 
hut rather hear him saying to us, more audi¬ 
bly than ever, “ Go forward.” 

It must be confessed that we have had 
fears, unbelieving fears, doubtless in part, 
and such in part as resulted necessarily 
from the novelty of the undertaking,- and 
had we suitably regarded the analogy of 
Providence, we might have had fears from 


Funeral of Henry Obookiah . . 35 

our uninterrupted and uncommon prosperi¬ 
ty, whether our work was the Lord’s, and 
would be owned by him, and blessed. But 
from this darkness we hear the voice of our 
God saying unto us,. « Be not afraid, for I 
am with you—be not afraid, it is And 
\ve are not afraid. Instead of his frown, we 
behold in this his Providence, cheering evi¬ 
dence, that this institution is taken under 
Jiis protection, as his own, and that he will 
by trials so discipline us, and the members 
of this school, for future usefulness, that 
himself shall not be robbed, nor we be de¬ 
stroyed, by the salvation of Owhyhee. 

Nor do we feel as if our labour had been 
lost, did our work terminate this day. If 
rfnv are disposed to think so, let them behold 
the dying scene of Henry Obookiah'; wit¬ 
ness his heavenly smile; trace his bright 
path to glory; behold his immaculate spirit 
before the throne of God—his astonishment 
at tlie Providence which brought him from 
Owhyhee, to fit him for Heaven, and his rap¬ 
ture at the glory revealed in him. Behold 
his humility, while he veils his face, and 
casts his crown at the feet of Jesus; his 
rapture while he cries amid the myriads of 
glory, «Worthy is the Lamb that was 
slain.” Let them calculate the amount of 
moral evil prevented by his sanctification* 


36 , Sermon preached at the 

and of natural evil, by his exemption .from 
the plagues of sin and the wrath of God.— 
Let them think of his growing knowledge 
and expanding mind; his increasing holi¬ 
ness, and his joy, destined to increase for 
ever, and then decide, whether they would 
recall the prayers, and the substance given 
to him,' if by doing so it would recail his 
spirit from Heaven, renew in his heart the 
reign of sin, and send him hack to weep un¬ 
heeded, where he once wept, “ because no 
one would give him learning,” and at last to 
go hack to the darkness ofOwhyhee, and die 
unsatisfied among the heathen. 

Who would dare to stop the song which lie 
sings, .to extinguish the rapture which he 
feels, to eclipse by his removal from Heav¬ 
en the glory of God, which his ‘redemption 
illustrates, or rob angels of their joy at his 
conversion, and their augmented joy at his 
arrival in .glory. 

Who does not reioicc rather*that God* has 
inclined and enabled him to bear a part in 
so glorious an achievement, as is now con¬ 
summated by his redemption. 

.lithe churches ofNew-England, knowing 
the purpose of God concerning Obookiali, 
had chartered a ship and sent'it to Owhy- 
hec, on purpose to bring him to Christ, and 
fit him for heaven: it "would have been a 


Funeral of Ilcnry Obookia/t. S7 

heap purchase of blessedness to man, and 
glory to God :—and were there no c.\pedi- 
ents now to rescue his poor countrymen, for 
whom he prayed, the end would justify the 
constant employment of such means, to 
bring the, sons and daughters of Qwhyhee, 
to glory. But besides his redemption, God 
by his Providence towards him, has illus¬ 
trated his government of the moral world, 
and added new evidence to the truth of the 
declaration, “ All that the Father hath giv¬ 
en unto me shall come.” 

This dear youth, it appears from evidence 
satisfactory, was given to Christ before the 
foundation of the world, that he should be 
holy and without blame before him in love, 
God having predestinated him to the adop¬ 
tion of a child, by Jesus Christ. 

But he is in the deep darkness of Owhy- 
hec, and how shall he believe on him of whom 
be has not heard, or how shall he hear with¬ 
out a preacher, or be blessed w ith the privi¬ 
leges, when the tiinfc has not come to send 
the Gospel to that isle of the sea. 

Behold the wonder-working hand of God I 
He is in the proscribed family of his father, 
all of whom are cut off. He flies with his 
brother on his back, whom the fatal arrow 
pierced, leaving Ohookiah untouched—-He 
*s dedicated by hi-s surviving uncle to the 


,SS Sermon preached at the 

priesthood—<But his tender spirit, grieved 
at the loss of his parents, could not bear 
the associations of Owhyhee. Other chil¬ 
dren had parents to return to, after playing, 
but this “ poor boy” could not forget # that 
he had none, and left his native land volun¬ 
tarily, and eagerly, that lie might cease 
from the ’constant, painful, remembrance of 
joys departed never to return. 

He came to this land, and heard of Him 
on whom without hearing, he could not be¬ 
lieve, and by the mouth of those, who could 
never have spoken to him in Owhyhee. 

He heard,*and God who commanded the 
light to shine out of darkness, caused the 
light of the knowledge of the glory of God, 
in the face of Jesus Christ, to illumine his 
heart; and now the eternal purpose of God 
is fulfilled. . • 

The necessity of the means of grace for. 
that purpose, illustrating God’s providential 
agency in bringing him to the light, and his 
voluntary agency in coming to the light, are 
manifested. The special grace ofrGod, in 
the renovation of his heart, and his volunta¬ 
ry submission to, and confidence in the Re¬ 
deemer, are proved to be reconcileable by 
their existence as matters of fact. 

Nor does the salvation of Obookiah fill up 
the measure of good, by which the Most 


Funeral of Uenrij Obookiah • S9 

High is pleased to reward our labour for 
him. By means of his conversion, num¬ 
bers of his brethren, wandering like lost 
sheep in our land, have been brought also 
to the knowledge of his truth, and by the 
remote instrumentality of the same event, 
this Institution, the hope of 0 why bee and 
other heathen lands, has been established. 
Nor are we compelled to believe, that his 
usefulness will terminate with his life, or 
that the immediate consequences of his 
death, will be calamitous. His death will 
give notoriety to this institution—will awa¬ 
ken a tender sympathy for Owhyhee, and 
give it an interest in the prayers and chari¬ 
ties of thousands who otherwise had not 
heard of this establishment, or been interes¬ 
ted in its prosperity. 

Let there be no despondency, then, in¬ 
dulged by the members of this agency, or the 
I board under whose patronage we act, or by 
I the churches of our Lord, who favour this 
I institution. These clouds, and tuis dark- 
i ness, announce the presence, but not the dis- 
I pleasure, of our God. 

Had no disappointments intervened, our 
work had lacked the immemorial testimony 
of the Divine approbation. Instead of be¬ 
ing appalled by the darkness, vve arc cheer¬ 
ed by it $ instead of fainting under the stroke. 



40 


Sermon , <$*c. 


we are animated by it, to double confidence 
in God, and double diligence in this work, 
forasmuch as we know, that our labour is 
not vain in the Lord. 


THE BANNER OF CHRIST SET UK 
A 


SERMON 

delivered at the inauguration 
op THE 

Rev, Hermon Daggett, 

AS PRINCIPAL OF THE 

FOREIGN MISSION SCHOOL 

IN 

CORNWALL, CONNECTICUT, 

May 6, 1818. 

BY JOSEPH HARVEY, A. M. 

PASTOR OF A CHURCH IN GOSHEN, CON 


$eto#atoeit: 

PUBLISHED BY NATHAN WHITING, 

Agent of the Foreign Mission School. 

S. CONVERSE, PRINTER. 

1819- 






J 

\ 




A SEILMON. 


PSALM XX. 5. 

And in the name of our God we will set up out 
banners. 

1 he annals of tear inform us of banners set up 
in the name of earthly princes, and of the perils 
of those, who in the u imminent deadly breach” 
have planted the standard of their country. 

To those who have enlisted under it, the banner 
thus displayed is the signal for united and vigorous 
effort. 

But there is another warfare, and there are 
other banners than those which are devoted to 
earthly glory. There is a kingdom which is not 
of this world. 

And has the Captain of our salvation, none 
among his enlisted bands, who are ready to volun¬ 
teer for special enterprises—none who are willing 
to march up to the entrenchments of the enemy , 
and set up a banner in the name of their God ? 

The pious author of our text was one who 
cheerfully assumed the danger, and who shared the 
glory of setting up the banners of God. Paul the 
Apostle of the Gentiles was another. 

P 2 


4 


Inauguration Sermon , 


Athens and Ephesus, Corinth and Rome, were 
so many breaches in the entrenchments of Satan, 
where in the very gates of idol temples, and on 
the heights of heathen superstition, he set up the 
banners of the Cross. 

Luther, Calvin, and Knox, in later times, have 
followed up the assault in one quarter, while 
Swartz, Carey, and Buchanan, together with 
youthful heroes from our own shores, have in 
other parts of the field made new breaches, gain¬ 
ed new points, and in the name of their God, have 
set up their banners. 

And, brethren, unless our hearts deceive us, we 
are now assembled to set up a banner in the name 
of our God—a banner, which indicates a new 
breach upon the adversary, and the approach of a 
fresh triumph to the cause of Christ. 

The Pagan world is the fortified camp of Satan. 
There he reigns unrivalled, unmolested.—There 
he is worshipped in all the varied forms of cruelty 
and lust. There his victims wear the chains of 
superstition and vice. There his wheels crush 
them, and his fires consume them. A significant 
prelude to the “ vengeance of eternal fire” 

In the Providence of God we are permitted to 
take a station on the very borders of this camp. 
Souls escaping from this despotism, fly to us for 
protection. They have come among us, they are 
now before us. By the proper qualification and 
use of these instruments, plucked from Satan’s 
own hands, we may hope one day to carry light 
and salvation to the dark recesses of his empire. 

But do we indeed set up this banner in the 


Inauguration Sermon , 


5 


name of our God ? Can we fairly expect for this 
Seminary the patronage of Heaven ? Have we 
obeyed the voice and followed the indications of 
Providence in raising this banner? Is there a ra¬ 
tional prospect of enlarging the limits and promot¬ 
ing the interests of Zion in this enterprize? These 
points it becomes us to examine with attention, for 
all our hopes of success rest here. “ If this coun¬ 
sel or this work be of men, it will come to nought; 
but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it.” 

While then we claim that this banner is set up 
in the name of our God, we propose to give a 
brief and connected view of the evidence by which 
we support this claim; and the reason why in the 
transactions of this day, we confidently and joy¬ 
fully adopt the language of the text as our motto. 

An enterprize, that it may have a legitimate 
claim to the patronage of God, must bear the fol¬ 
lowing distinctive marks. 

It must in nature and design accord with the 
revealed will of God. 

It must be clearly pointed out in his Providence, 
and it must present a rational prospect of success. 

By these marks, then, let us test the character 
of our present enterprize. 

1. It must in nature and design accord with the 
revealed word of God. In other words, its lead¬ 
ing object and motive must agree with what God 
has revealed to us as his pleasure, and our duty. 
And this object must be pursued by lawful and 
Christian measures. Many an enterprize of am¬ 
bition and tyranny has claimed the patronage and 




6 


Inauguration Sermon. 


assumed the name of Jehovah. Many times have 
the professed Banners of the Cross waved over 
fields of carnage, and the altars of superstition. 
Such have been Papal efforts to secure the domin¬ 
ion of the beast, by pretending to convert the hea¬ 
then. Some of the fairest portions of Europe, 
the plains of Southern America, and many deso¬ 
lated regions of the East, exhibit to this day the 
traces of their cruelty, and the evidences of their 
hypocrisy. 

Other enterprizes have resulted from the mere 
ebulitions of fanaticism. Many have run without 
being sent, and by the vain projects of distempered 
zeal, have exposed the cause of Christ to reproach 
and themselves to disaster. 

Such were the memorable crusades of the ele¬ 
venth and twelfth centuries, in which the Holy 
Land was the idol of superstition, and the Infidels 
were to be driven into heaven by force of arms. 

But all these and similar attempts, could plead 
no authority from the word of God, and were 
therefore, merely the efforts of depravity under 
the cloak of religion. 

Let us not then harbour the thought, that be¬ 
cause chimerical plans have been projected under 
the name of religion, and have failed: no enter- 
prize for the enlargement of Zion is to be underta¬ 
ken or will succeed. Let us not suppose that be¬ 
cause hypocrites have abused the name of religion 
to effect their sinister purposes, all are hypocrites 
who attempt any thing for the honour of Christ. 
That no banner is to be set up in his name, be- 


Inauguration Sermon . 


7 


cause men with evil designs have pretended to 
•erect such a banner. 

If our present undertaking can plead no higher 
claim to the patronage of God than inquisitions 
and crusades, let us for ever renounce it 

What is the revealed purpose of God respecting 
the heathen ? If God has not given us authority 
to subjugate them, or to convert them with fire and 
sword, has he authorized us to do nothing for 
them ? Are they never to be converted ? And are 
there no lawful Christian means by which to ac¬ 
complish this object? Does God himself intend 
to do nothing for them ? Are they always to re¬ 
main as they are now and have been for successive 
generations ? Are six hundred millions of our race 
from one age to another, to grope their way to hell 
through the darkness of idolatry ? Is not light ever 
to shine on heathen lands ? Is no banner of Jesus 
ever to be set up on the plains of India or China ? 
Will Ethiopia never stretch out her hands to God ? 
^VV ill the Islands of the sea never wait for his law? 
—No one who reads his Bible and believes it, can 
have a doubt on this subject. The heathen are 
the covenanted inheritance of Christ, and the king¬ 
doms of this world will become his kingdom. The 
Bible every where declares this truth, and the peo¬ 
ple of God have expected this event from the ear¬ 
liest ages, and have one after another died exulting 
in this hope. 

Besides, this is not the only purpose of God, it 
is the great object of Christian labours. It was 
the last and express command of our Saviour to 
&is disciples , (( Go ye into all the world , and preach 


8 Inauguration Sermon. 

ike Gospel to every creature” And that this 
command is to be understood as addressed to ali 
the ministers and churches of Christ in every age, 
is manifest from the subjoined promise: “ Lo I 
am with you alway even unto the end of the 
world ” This leaves no room for a doubt as to 
the will of God or the duty of his people. If there 
were a possibility of mistaking our duty on this 
subject, we might render it still clearer by turning 
our attention to the fulfilment of this promise in 
behalf of those who have in obedience to the com¬ 
mand, gone forth and preached the Gospel among 
the nations. Christ has been with them to pro¬ 
tect and support them, he has blessed them with 
the presence and saving efficacy of the Holy 
Ghost, and has thus shown what he meant by the 
command and the promise. And he who attempts 
to evade the application of this command, or to 
excuse himself from the duty enjoined, does virtu¬ 
ally renounce his relation to Christ, and his title 
to the future inheritance of his children. 

The attempt then, to instruct and christianize 
the heathen, is no chimera. It is no crusade nor 
papal mission for gold or power. It is the reveal¬ 
ed will of God, and a prominent duty to which all 
Christians are bound by the express command of 
their Lord. 

In its design, then, our enterprize bears the 
stamp of Divine authority. But how, in the next 
place, do we propose to accomplish this design ? 
Are our measures lawful and Christian ? 

The plan by which we prosecute our present 
purpose is simple. It is to use no carnal weapons 


Inauguration Sermo n . 


9 


•or carnal influence; but by affording Christian in¬ 
struction and exhibiting Christian example, to per¬ 
suade the heathen to be reconciled to God. Here 
is no plan of aggrandizement, no objects for carnal 
concupiscence. The station is humble, the task is 
arduous, the trials are many; but the object is 
glorious, and we trust the fruits will be blessed. 
May we not, then, trace a clear and satisfactory 
accordance of our present attempt with the word, 
and purpose of God ? Are we not doing in this 
Seminary “ \\ hat our Lord has commanded us to 
do ?” Are we not tendering our aid in the work of 
preaching the Gospel to every creature ? 

2. Our present enterprize, that it may claim the 
patronage of God, must be clearly pointed out in 
his Providence; and by this mark let it be proved. 

The call of Providence to any particular duty, 
must be learnt from a coincidence of circumstan¬ 
ces, pointing the same way, rather than from an 
insulated fact. 

When a variety of events originally indepen¬ 
dent of each other, shew a clear convergency to 
the same point, and when that point is manifestly 
within the circle of duty, and embraced by express 
command, we may safely infer the design of Pro¬ 
vidence respecting our particular and immediate 
employment. Especially when these events clus¬ 
ter around us so thickly as to render us manifestly 
culpable in disregarding their indications, may wg 
hear the call of God in his Providence, to gird up 
our loins and go forward. 

By such indications of Providence, if wc strr 


lo 


Inauguration Sermon . 


not deceived, has this enterprize been pointed out. 
Let us take a brief view of the several steps by 
which we have, as we believe, been led to the pres¬ 
ent stage of our work. 

In the fall of 1809, Henry Obookiah, a native 
of Owhyhbe, arrived with a companion from his 
native Island, at New-York, and subsequently at 
New- Haven in Connecticut. In the bare fact of 
his arrival in this country, there is nothing extra¬ 
ordinary ; because many of his countrymen have 
come hither, and again departed, without any oth¬ 
er visible effect from their visit to this Christian 
land, than a contamination of its vices. 

But soon after the arrival of ObooJdah , there 
began to be a disclosure of some special designs of 
Providence, in bringing this youth to this country, 
and at this time. 

Others of his countrymen have come and de¬ 
parted without manifesting any desire for instruc¬ 
tion or improvement. Not so with Obookiah. 
He began early to express a strong wish to be in¬ 
structed, and to obtain a Christian education. He 
visited the house of God on the Sabbath, and ling¬ 
ered about the College, trying to catch something 
which would gratify the thirst of his mind for 
knowledge. And when he found that he could un¬ 
derstand little or nothing, being ignorant of the 
language, and that the treasures of knowledge 
which were open to others, were locked up from 
him ; he sat down and wept on the threshold of 
one of the College buildings. But God who seeth 
all his work from the beginning, had not excited 


Inauguration Sermon. 1 1 

ia his mind this strong desire after knowledge for 
no purpose. 

A few Christian friends residing in the College, 
were led to become acquainted with his case ; and 
from the first moment that they understood his 
wishes, they felt an unusual interest on his behalf, 
and were prepared to enter immediately on the 
work of his instruction. They also laboured with 
him in lively hope of Ills conversion and future 
usefulness. 

The same impression spread far and wide in 
the hearts of Christians, as they became acquaint¬ 
ed with his history. And all who saw him, or 
heard of him, felt, for reasons which they them¬ 
selves could hardly explain, that a new era was 
about to commence in relation to the Sandwich 
Islands. 

By a remarkable coincidence of circumstances, 
which we cannot now detail, friends were raised 
up and places opened for the reception and instruc¬ 
tion of Obookiah, which served still farther to 
strengthen the belief that Cod had some special 
and important design in sending this youth among 
us. But distant hopes and conjectures, soon open¬ 
ed into actual calculation and fair prospect, when 
Obookiah began to exhibit evidence of a w ork of 
the Spirit of God on his heart; evidence that lie 
had passed from death unto ,life. 

By this early and joyful fruit of their labours, 
those who had already undertaken his instruction, 
felt themselves committed and bound to proceed $ 
and others were induced to take a part in the Jo- 

Q 


12 


Inauguration Sermon . 


bour of love, of fitting him to be a messenger of sal¬ 
vation to his countrymen. 

While these things were taking place in respect 
to Obookiah, the discovery was made, that others 
of his countrymen were wandering in our land, in 
circumstances which demanded the attention of the 
friends ot Zion. Some of them were taken up and 
put in a course of instruction. The blessing of 
God evidently attended these benevolent efforts, 
and the prospect of doing goodin this way, contin¬ 
ually extended and brightened. 

The advantages of having these youth reside to¬ 
gether, where they might keep alive their language, 
anc enjoy the society and prayers of their new 
born friend, became manifest to all. They were 
accordingly collected and entered upon a course 
of literary and religious instruction. Here was 
the germ ot the present seminary, and as we trust, 
of a permanent and extensively useful institu¬ 
tion, in relation to the spread of the Gospel among 
the heathen. 

Another important step in this work, and one 
essential to its progress, was the appearance of a 
general spirit of prayer and liberality among 
Christians, in behalf of these strangers. 

Wherever their case was made known, God op¬ 
ened the hearts of his people to provide for them. 
Those who had at first undertaken their instruc¬ 
tion at their own individual expense, and who were 
beginning to feel the increasing burden too great 
for them to sustain, were soon cheered by the pros¬ 
pect, that they were not to stand alone in this un¬ 
dertaking. Articles of clothing and donations in 


Inauguration Sermon . 


13 


money, flowed in from different quarters to supply 
their want. The God who sent them to us, sent 
to them also by the hands of his people, such things 
as they needed. 

Other youth from the Sandwich Islands, and 
from other parts of the heathen world, were soon 
cast in our way, and in such numbers as to call for 
more systematic and extended measures. 

Here the plan of a Missionary Seminary was 
first conceived. Though this design of Provi¬ 
dence had been gradually opening for some time, 
and the Seminary had actually com^^nced: still 
those employed as instruments in the work, did not 
till now, distinctly perceive the object to which 
Providence was leading them ; nor were they till 

now, conscious of what they were really doing- 

They were led by a way that they knew not. But 
now they began to perceive that their ark of bul¬ 
rushes , contained the infancy of a great and per¬ 
manent institution, which would be a light to light¬ 
en the Gentiles. It now became necessary to 
place the seminary under the patronage of some 
body of Christians, publicly known, in which pub¬ 
lic confidence might be reposed, and which could 
properly assume the responsibility of applying the 
public benefactions. 

A memorial was accordingly presented to the 
American Board of Commissioners for Foreign 
Missions, in the fall of 1816, in which the circum¬ 
stances of these strangers were made known, and 
they requested to take them under their care. 

They cheerfully acceded to the request, and in 
a formal manner established the Seminary, as 


14 


1 nauguration Sermeiu 


branch ol their work; and appointed a board of 
agents to manage its concerns. 

And to-day we have met publicly to consecrate 
it, and its Principal to God. 

Thus has God led us, and thus has he blessed 
us m this undertaking. True he has taken from 
us the dear lamented Obookiah— but not until he 
had finished the work which God gave him to do 
We can now look back and see the whole design 
° in bringing this youth to our country. He 
was to be the instrument of laying the foundation 
oi tms ^emniary : of exciting# spirit of prayer and 
liberality m our churches in behalf of his native 
island 5 and of convincing us what his countrymen 
might be, and what they might enjoy, under the 
culture of Christian love. Having finished this 
woric, and at a moment when he was becoming 
dangerous to our wavering hearts, ever ready to 
idolize the instrument, God took him away, to be 
with Christ, which is far better. 

Perhaps he is the first of his nation that ever en¬ 
tered the gates of the New-Jerusalem. And to 
nave been in any measure the instruments of his 
salvation, is an ample reward for all we have done. 

Lord may b ° ldty Say? ° Ur ' V ° rk is n0t in vain in the 
And who, on reviewing this course of events, 
will not say m the sincerity of his heart, this Semil 
nary is the chid of Providence ? God cast these 
strangers upon our hands, and what could we do 
but help them. God put them in our way, and 
could we “pass by on the other side ?” 

God has increased the work upon our hands- 


Inauguration Sermon . !•> 

one after another has evidently been born again 
under our labours and where could we stop or 
forsake the enterprize, without forfeiting our Chris- 
tian character ? And what can we now do but 
go forward ? Can we give up the object, with all 
the duty, and all the encouragement which is so 
clearly set before us ? No, brethren, we are en¬ 
listed, we cannot go back, let us then go forward, 
and in the name of our God set up our banners. 

3. Our present enterprize, that it may properly 
claim the patronage of God, must present some ra¬ 
tional prospect of success in doing good to our fel¬ 
low-men. 

This is not the age of miracles, bnt of means.— 
And means, that they may be used as such, must 
have some probable connexion with the end. 

In short, we must pursue such measures for the 
conversion of the Heathen, as in the eye of sound 

* It ought perhaps to be particularly noted here as one 
of the clearest evidences that God designs this Seminary 
for great good, that it has been signally blessed with the 
special operations of the Spirit of God since its estab¬ 
lishment. By the admission to it of Heathen youth, in 
most cases uncivilized and unchristianized, it is rendered 
peculiarly dependant on the special blessing of God, and 
the agency of the Spirit for its success. 

And God has manifested his approbation of it by grant¬ 
ing this necessary blessing. Five of the youths who be¬ 
long to the Seminary, and who came to it in a state of al¬ 
most entire heathenism, have, since its establishment, (a 
little more than a year) given satisfactory evidence of 
having passed from death unto life, arid become the heirs 
of eternal glory. Others are the subjects of religious im¬ 
pressions, and all appear seriously attentive to eternal 
r hings. “ If God be for us, who can be against us ?” 

Q 2 


16 


Inauguration Sermon . 

judgment, and the light of Scripture, are best cal¬ 
culated to accomplish the object. 

It is by the foolishness of preaching, that God 
has determined to save them that believe, and to 
save all his elect throughout the world. And our 
enquiry is, vvhat are the most eligible and probable 
measures of causing the Gospel to be preached to 
every creature ? 

Here we may lay down the sentiment as the 
basis of our present enterprize, and from which the 
advantages of it will be manifest, that the conver¬ 
sion of the Heathen must be chiefly accomplished 
by native teachers. That is, by natives who have 
themselves been christianized, and qualified for all 
the various brandies of instruction. 

This sentiment, we think, must, upon due ex¬ 
amination, appear rational, and agreeable to uni¬ 
versal experience. 

Missionaries from civilized and Christian coun¬ 
tries are, indeed indispensably necessary to com¬ 
mence the operations of Christian instruction a- 
mong the heathen. They must transfer to hea¬ 
then lands the little leaven, which is designed to 
leaven the whole lump. They must begin and su¬ 
perintend missionary establishments, for transla¬ 
tions and the publication of books. They must 
direct in the formation and government of church¬ 
es, and in settling and keeping in order all the 
great concerns of missions. 

But in the next stage of the work, we need na¬ 
tive teachers suitably qualified, who may be intro¬ 
duced under the direction and superintendence of 
missionaries, to the social circles and private walk* 


Inauguration Sermon . 1 ; 

of their countrymen, with many peculiar advanta¬ 
ges. 

Some of these advantages it may be proper here 
to suggest. 

All nations have their peculiar customs and 
prejudices, as well as their peculiarities of lan¬ 
guage; a knowledge of which is important, in 
gaining the attention, and seizing the avenues to 
the heart. 

By possessing this knowledge, native teachers 
with the love of Christ in their hearts, hold in 
their hands an advantage, for securing access to 
their countrymen, which cannot easily he gained 
by strangers. These teachers can go to their 
countrymen in native language, and native elo¬ 
quence. Their communications are intelligible to 
all, and can be adapted to every variety of char¬ 
acter and circumstances. 

The constitutions of native teachers being inur¬ 
ed to their respective climates, give them a fairer 
prospect of life and health, to endure the toil of 
missionary labors. 

Their consanguinity also to many of their coun¬ 
trymen, will in many instances give them influ¬ 
ence, and render their instructions acceptable. 
Besides, it is obvious that Christian nations cannot 
sustain the expense of furnishing from among 
themselves, a competent supply of religious teach¬ 
ers for the heathen world. Nor is it necessary 
they should. They will, as it is their duty, fur¬ 
nish and support, such a number of missionaries, 
as is necessary to make establishments, and begin, 
and direct missionary labors in the field. 


18 


Inauguration Sermon. 


But native teachers, and those in great numbers 
must be raised up, who, with proper assistance in 
obtaining the requisite qualifications, will be able 
to go forth among their kindred, and find suste¬ 
nance among those with whom they labor; and 
who in their turn will be the instruments of rais¬ 
ing up those who shall be their successors; and 
thus in the result relieve their original benefactors 
from the expense of their instruction. 

And this, we may here remark, has been the 
uniform course in the spread of the Gospel among 
the nations. England received missionaries from 
Rome, who planted in that then heathen land, the 
seed of Christianity. But Rome did not continue 
long to supply England with Christian teachers. 
Soon her own new-born children were raised up 
and qualified to supply her own wants. And in 
the result England not only supplies herself, but 
sends out her bands of missionaries to almost eve¬ 
ry part of the globe. 

Experience has taught missionaries at all the 
principal stations, early to avail themselves of the 
labors of such among the natives, as have appear¬ 
ed to be true converts to Christianity, and as have 
been in any suitable degree qualified to become 
teachers. And they have found many advantages 
resulting from the experiment. 

In South Africa, and under the Baptist mission¬ 
aries in India, many such laborers are already 
successfully employed. 

In every view of the subject then, it appears to 
be a principle of sound policy, that early measures 
be adopted to qualify and bring forward native 


Inauguration Sermon . 


19 

teachers, as instruments of preaching the Gospel 
among their countrymen. And thus far the argu¬ 
ment applies with equal force to all schools and 
seminaries which have this object in view. 

But a question here arises, and a question which 
will lead us to view the peculiar advantages of this 
institution; what is the most eligible method of 
educating the native youth of heathen nations, so 
as to qualify them to become religious teachers 
among their countrymen ? 

And here let it be distinctly understood, that we 
by no means consider this seminary, even when 
operating in its greatest extent, as superceding the 
necessity of schools for the education of heathen 
children in their own country. It is obvious th<tf 
the children of heathen nations cannot be trans¬ 
ported in a body to this or any other Christian 
country for an education. Neither can it be ra¬ 
tionally expected, that all, even of those heathen 
youth who are designed for teachers, can be favor¬ 
ed with the advantages of this or any similar in¬ 
stitution in a Christian land. There will then be 
no competition between this school, and schools 
for the education of heathen children abroad. Thev 
are branches of the same plan of operations. 

Our present object is not to discourage other 
schools which have the same great object in view, 
but to show reasons, why it is expedient and ne¬ 
cessary that such an institution as the present 
should be established and supported among us; 
and to point out some advantages which may thus 
be secured, and which must otherwise be lost. 

The first consideration we offer for this purpose 


20 


Inauguration Sermon . 


is, that numbers of heathen youth, and many of 
them of very promising talents, are in the Provi¬ 
dence of God led to our shores, and have a tempo¬ 
rary residence in our country. Some of them come 
from countries whither no n issionary has been 
sent, and all of them are out of the reach of mis¬ 
sionary labors at home. And from the extent of 
commercial intercourse in the world, the number 
of such youth will doubtless be increasing. Now 
if these be neglected, they will by intercourse with 
the vile and vicious of our c< untry, be furnished 
out to be a hindrance to the sj read of the Gospel 
among their countrymen, and a nuisance to the 
world. 

It is also a fact that many young men of our 
own country, must for a while at least be employ¬ 
ed as preachers and schoolma: ters among the hea¬ 
then, and these need to be qu: lified for their busi¬ 
ness. And by uniting them in a missionary semi¬ 
nary with the heathen youth, we secure the double 
advantage of making them acquainted with the 
customs and language of heathen countries, while 
they enjoy all the means of instruction which civ¬ 
ilized society affo ds. 

Intimacies and attachments are also formed be¬ 
tween them, and those heathen youth who are to 
be their future companions in labor, which may be 
of incalculable benefit. 

It must also be granted on all hands, that means 
for obtaining an education may be here obtained 
which cannot at present be transferred to distant 
heathen lands. Here are books and accommoda¬ 
tions, the fruits of long experience and improve- 


Inauguration Sermon . 21 

ment, which cannot be expected in Pagan coun¬ 
tries, until Christiai ity has smoothed the rough¬ 
ness of the forest, and turned the wilderness into 
a fruitful field. 

Missionaries among the heathen, however pious 
and able, will, until their number is so increased as 
to fill every branch of their w r ork with appropriate 
labourers, find themselves overwhelmed with a 
great variety of labours and duties. They must di¬ 
vide their attention between many pressing objects, 
and will find it impossible to afford that regular 
and systematic instruction which is desirable to 
qualify native youth to become teachers. But here 
an instructor, having no other object, and sitting 
down quietly to his work, will be able to accom¬ 
plish his purpose with greater facility and success. 

As it respects the expences of education, it is 
also apparent, that a goodly number of heathen 
youth can be educated here,and on our present plan, 
at a cheaper rate than they could be educated in 
their own country. 

The case stands thus:—the scholar originally is 
on one side of the water, the teacher and the 
means of instruction are on the other. Now the 
question is, whether it is least expensive to bring 
the scholar to the school, or rather to take him 
when he comes, or to transport the school with all 
its apparatus to the scholar ? 

On the former plan we avoid all the expense 
and hazard of transporting supplies to a distant 
land, and secure many advantages which could not 
be transported. We also by receiving the schol¬ 
ar here, put it in the power of many to assist him 


22 


i naugiiration Sermon . 


Jn the articles of living, who could not contribute 
money to be sent away. 

On the latter plan, we not only subject ourselves 
to the extra expense of supporting a school at a 
distance from us, but we lav ourselves under the 
necessity of making such an establishment at every 
important missionary station which we occupy. 
One adapted to China, will not be suited to Owhy- 
uee or South America. And by establishing a 
Seminary in China, we do nothing to advance the 
cause in the other places. 13ut by fixing on a cen¬ 
tral station, and furnishing a seminary for the edu¬ 
cation of heathen youth generally, we construct an 
engine, whose power may be directed to any part 
ot the globe, and which from use and improvement 
will be constantly growing more efficient and ex¬ 
tensive in its operations. 

Perhaps it may be said, that this account of the 
comparative expense of our present plan, militates 
in some degree against the statements which have 
been made by our Missionaries, of the expense of 
educating heathen children in their own country. 
But this difficulty will disappear if we consider, 
that the statements of the expense of educating hea¬ 
then children, which have been made by our mis¬ 
sionaries, relate only to the extra expense of this 
particular object, under the care of men who are 
already sent out and supported. 

It is the current expense of the education mere¬ 
ly, and does not include the capital invested in the 
missionary establishment. 

The common education of children also, on ac¬ 
count of modern improvements in that department, 


Inauguration Sermon, 


can be conducted at a much cheaper rate than the 
education of such young men as are designed to be 
teachers. 

These things taken into the account, it will still 
he true, that the* object of our present undertaking 
may be effected here, and on the present plan, at a 
less expense, than to form such establishments in 
heathen countries. 

Besides, such an institution in a heathen coun¬ 
try, if equally cheap and excellent in itself, must 
experience disadvantages from surrounding exam¬ 
ple and influence. The scholar, though receiving 
instruction at set hours, still has access to pagan 
customs, which must not only hinder his improve¬ 
ment, but afford a constant source of corruption to 
his mind. 

On the other hand, by separating the youth at 
once from corrupt society and influence, while we 
put into his hands the means of instruction, we lay 
the foundation for more abundant and happy fruits. 

It is highly important that some at least of the 
heathen youth, who are designed to be teachers 
and guides, in forming the rude materials of their 
country into Christian society, should be introduced 
to such society and educated in it; that they may 
see the operation of principles which they are ex¬ 
pected to inculcate. We can never make skilful 
practitioners by mere theory. The keen eye of 
curiosity will mark many facts respecting social 
life, which we should never think to mention, or 
which, if merely related, would make no lasting 
impression. 

The situation and character of females in Chris- 

If 


24 Inauguration Sermon, 

tian society, is one important point of distinction 
between that and the society of heathen, and one 
thing in which the beneficial influence of the Gos¬ 
pel is very conspicuous. But this could never be 
fully known but by observation. Obookiah fre¬ 
quently remarked that nothing seemed so strange 
to him, on coming to this country, as to see men 
and women eating at the same table and of the same 
kind of food. This was a convincing evidence to 
his mind, that the Gospel was designed to make 
mankind happy. 

He said, that when a lad, he had often thrown 
stones at his mother, and thought it no crime ; and 
that in his country, mothers frequently murdered 
their infant sons, om account of the cruelty which 
they expected from them if they should live. He 
often wept at the recollection of cruelties which he 
had inflicted on his mother in his early years. 

Equal advantages will be found from introducing 
heathen youth to civilized society, in obtaining a 
knowledge of agriculture and the arts. And this 
is one important object in connection with mission¬ 
ary labours. This will have weight in favour of 
our present plan. Here practical husbandry is a 
branch of our system, and the knowledge of use¬ 
ful arts will in due time be instructed. 

It will also be much more practicable, to accus¬ 
tom heathen youth to habits of industry and subor¬ 
dination here, than in their own country. There 
they will feel their independence, and at every sup¬ 
posed provocation will be likely to break over re¬ 
straint. But here they are dependent and they 
will feel it, and know that they are to receive no 


Inauguration Sermon . 


25 


countenance from those around them in any flagi¬ 
tious courses. Here they will learn the meaning 
and necessity of authority • and being obliged to 
fabour a part of the time for their own support, 
they will be acquiring habits of sobriety and indus¬ 
try at the same time that they are learning the art 
of husbandry. And by being introduced into the 
bosom of Christian society, and becoming acquaint¬ 
ed with its better parts, by being made the sub¬ 
jects of Christian beneficence and kindness, they 
will be able to form a just estimate of the true na¬ 
ture and effects of Christianity. 

That false and unfavourable impression which 
the heathen receive, from observing in their own 
country only those nominal Christians, whose sole 
object is to rifle and oppress them, will in this way 
be removed from the minds of these youth, and 
they will be able to remove it from the minds of 
others. They will learn that there are two sorts 

Christians, and they will be able in future to dis¬ 
tinguish between them. 

Having thus attempted to show the general ad¬ 
vantages of our present plan, in respect to the hea¬ 
then world, and the prospect of doing good which 
is thus set before us, I may now observe, we have 
a particular prospect of doing good to a very im¬ 
portant portion of our fellow-men, which is now 
our leading object, and to which I feel bound to 
direct your attention. 

The evangelizing of the Sandwich Islands has 
been from the first the great object of our present 
labours. To this object Providence has directed 
©ur attention by sending to us a number of promis- 


26 


Inauguration Sermon, 


ing youth from those Islands, and in this quarter, it 
is conceived, is our brightest prospect of usefulness. 

The Sandwich Islands are now the only impor¬ 
tant cluster of Islands in the great Southern Ocean 
where the Gospel has not been published. At the 
Society Islands , particularly at Otaheite and Ei- 
meo, the triumphs of the cross have been great and 
glorious. Their wooden gods have been heaped 
together and burnt as the funeral pile of idolatry. 

The Bible, the Sabbath, and the Sanctuary, there 
shed their precious light, and diffuse the choicest 
blessings of heaven. 

Proceeding westward we find Missionaries at 
the Friendly Isles , at New Zealand and New Hol¬ 
land. These include all the important Islands in 
the Southern Pacific, and these have been supplied 
with the bread of life from the liberality of Chris¬ 
tians in England. 

The Sandwich Islands lying in northern lati¬ 
tude, over against our continent, seem to demand 
their supplies of spiritual food from the people of 
God in America. They are left by Christians in 
the eastern world, to our nurture and cultivation 
And too long have they waited for the fruits of our 
tardy zeal! 

These Islands are the ordinary residence of not 
much less than a million of immortal beings, and by 
proper cultivation are probably capable of sustain¬ 
ing three times that number. 

The character of the inhabitants, and the en¬ 
couragement to instruct them, have been set before 
us in actual experiment. Those who have been 
acquainted with Obookiah and his companions. 


Inauguration Sermon, 


27 


Hiid have witnessed the enlargement and elevation 
of their minds by means of instruction, will need 
no other evidence that these Islanders are capable 
of rapid improvement, and of a high degree of in¬ 
tellectual and spiritual happiness. 

The spiritual cultivation then of these Islands, to 
extend our views no farther, is an interesting object. 

But our views are by no means confined to these 
Islands. They are but the threshold of our pre¬ 
sent enterprize. They are the key to a still more 
extensive field of labour, to which our views are ul- 
mately to be directed. 

These Islands are situated in the path of water 
communication, between us and the whole western 
coast of North America. They are the stepping 
stone to numerous heathen tribes scattered on the 
borders of the western ocean. 

Having taken post at Owhyhee , an easy access 
is afforded to the western coast of America, from 
California to the highest habitable latitude, an ex¬ 
tent of about fifty degrees, or three thousand five 
hundred miles. 

A regular intercourse is kept up between these 
Islands, and many points of the western coast; and 
it is ascertained that many, at least, of the tribes 
on this coast, speak radically the same language 
with that which is spoken at the Sandwich Islands. 
These are facts which should not be overlooked 
by the Christian adventurer. 

A mission to the Sandwich Islands, however 
important in itself, is but the prelude to the intro¬ 
duction of the Gospel to the many millions of im¬ 
mortals on the western side of our continent. 

R 2 


28 


Inauguration Sermon . 


And from the consideration, that vast and al¬ 
most impassable mountains stretch themselves be¬ 
tween us and the western coast, it appears evident 
that the Gospel in its progress to the heathen, west 
of the mountains, must take the route of the Sand¬ 
wich Islands, either by going round the southern 
extremity of our continent, or by crossing as low 
down as the Isthmus of Darien. 

In this view of the subject, it is believed that no 
prospect of doing good to the souls and bodies of 
our fellow men, more extensive, more probable, or 
more animating, was ever presented to the eye of 
faith or philanthropy. 

Our present establishment, while it may afford 
occasional labourers for other fields, has for its 
leading object, the Christianization of the western 
heathen ot this continent. It is to bring the fertile 
plains, and the numerous tribes bordering on the 
Great Pacific, under the sceptre of Jesus, that we 
set up this banner. We begin our march by tak¬ 
ing post at Owhyhee. And having there formed 
a depot of spiritual treasures and arms, we can di¬ 
rect our advancing columns to any point of this 
great field. And in consequence of this movement, 
we shall soon see Bibles and Preachers, Revivals 
and Churches, spreading throughout the whole 
western extent of this continent. Young Owhyhe - 
ans, catching the spirit of their benefactors,'will 
enlist as missionaries to the continent, and Chris¬ 
tian teachers proceeding on by land from the east, 
and coming round from the west, will meet and 
shake hands at the feet of the Rocky Mountains. 
Then will they lift up the voice together—with the 


Inauguration Sermon. 29 

voice together will they sing over this great har¬ 
vest of souls. 

I will only add, that it is important that this 
whitening field should be entered with all possible 
dispatch. The heathen beyond the mountains, 
are yet untainted by the vices of those from Chris¬ 
tian countries, whose profligacy and cupidity ren¬ 
der them a great hindrance to the entrance of the 
Gospel, where they have gone before. Let then 
slumbering Christians awake and be beforehand 
with the emmissaries of Satan. 

O merciful Redeemer of lost men ! how long 
shall the time be, ere thy Gospel shall resound from 
the shores of Owhyhee, and reaching the neighbour¬ 
ing continent, shall echo along its far extended 
coast, and salute the ears of millions of our fellow 
immortals; until we shall hear a voice from the 
west as well as from the east, saying—“ The king¬ 
doms of this world have become the kingdoms of 
our Lord and of his Christy and he shall reign for 
ever and ever” 

We close with a few Reflections. 

1. The setting up of this banner, presents us in¬ 
deed with a prospect of toil. 

A banner is never set up for the gratification ol 
idle curiosity, but as the signai for exertion. Breth¬ 
ren we have not called you together to-day to feast 
your imagination, or excite your wonder by the 
exhibition of some new thing. But we have call¬ 
ed you together to point out to you the Standard 


30 


Inauguration Sermon * 


of Jesus Christ, and to call you to the rallying 
point. This banner, remember, must be support¬ 
ed. Cowards and traitors only, forsake the stan¬ 
dard of their King. 

Is this the banner of Christ? has he committed 
its keeping to our instrumentality? Then if we 
neglect it, we neglect our Master; if we desert it, 
we desert the Captain of our Salvation; if we be¬ 
tray it, we betray the interests of Zion. 

It is no uncommon thing for those who talk in 
fervent strains of the near approach of the millen¬ 
nium, to shrink from any particular duty or sacri¬ 
fice connected with objects in which they appear 
to delight. If called to act in support of the good 
cause, they have always some excuse at hand.— 
They either do not like the object, or they disap¬ 
prove of the measures, or they prefer some other 
object. 

Many will pray for the conversion of the heathen 
and weep over their wretchedness, who are unwil¬ 
ling to make any exertion, or practice the least self- 
denial, or give a mite of their substance, to procure 
an answer to their prayers. 

Many are glad to see their names connected with 
benevolent institutions, when they put no hand to 
the work, nor touch the burden with one of their 
fingers. 

It any man has come to set up this banner in this 
trame ot mind, “let him go and return unto his 
house, lest his brethren’s heart faint as well as his 
heart.” 

We are entering indeed a field of labour. We 
have planned, now we must execute. We have 
set up the bamier, now we must defend it. 


Inauguration Sermon, 


51 

Brethren, we will present the subject under no 
disguise. This enterprise will subject us to ex¬ 
pense, and toil, and trial. If any are not prepar¬ 
ed to engage in the work on these terras, let them 
not enlist. 

2. Is this the banner of God ? then we call up¬ 
on all the friends of Christ to gather around and 
support it. 

Christians, behold we set up the banner of your 
Saviour! This is his Seminary. Who then is on 
the Lord’s side, let him come unto us. 

You see, Christian brethren, the encouragement 
and the duty which the present enterprize sets be¬ 
fore you. You see where and how God has set an 
open door for your labours of love. Here are such 
advantages offered, such a prospect of speedy and 
extensive benefit to the heathen world, that you 
must not only feel authorised, but bound by the 
highest obligation to lend a helping hand. 

This is not a novel experiment of doubtful issue. 
The London Missionary Society , has for years 
had a Seminary exclusively for Missionary purpo¬ 
ses, and which has been found highly beneficial. 
A seminary on the same plan with this has lately 
been established at Parramatta, in New South 
Wales, with fair prospects of success. And in eve¬ 
ry view which reason or faith can take of the sub¬ 
ject, this is an eligible method of conveying spirit¬ 
ual instruction to the heathen. And God in his 
Providence is opening a wide field for our labours. 

Away, then, with these excuses. God takes 
them from you. You have been saying that you 


32 


Inauguration Sermon. 


could not go to the heathen, and lo ! the heathen 
have come to you. You have been afraid to trans¬ 
port your substance across the great deep to the 
heathen, and God has transported the heathen to 
your doors. 

What will unbelief say now ? With what new 
plea will she keep herself in countenance ? Where, 
covetousness , wilt thou now hide thy head? With 
what pretence, will false lov& now cover her na¬ 
kedness ? 

Christians, Christ has your pledge and you can¬ 
not go back. And would you go back? Would 
you forego the happiness and honour of labouring 
for Him that died for you ? Would you, by neglect¬ 
ing your share of his service here, relinquish your 
title to a crown of glory ? Will you say that you 
desire not to suffer with Christ, and consequently 
do not desire to reign with him forever? No, I hear 
replied by every heart constrained by the love of 
Christ ; no—we would not go back. His yoke is 
easy, his burden is light. In obedience to his word, 
led by his Providence, and encouraged by his bles¬ 
sing, we go forward, “ and in the name of our God, 
will tee set up our Banner. Amen. 


INAUGURATION ADDRESS, 


delivered 


AT THE OPENING OF THE 


FOREIGN MISSION SCHOOL 


May 6, 1818. 


BY HERMAN DAGGETT, A. j\f 
principal of the school 


PUBLISHED BY NATHAN WHITING, 

-Qgent of the Foreign Mission School 

.?’> CONVERSE, riUNTEr?- 

1819. 
























, ' •- i 


; 





. 


'• ,v 4 









INAUGURATION ADDRESS. 


How suitable, how fixed, and, for the purpose for which 
it was made, how effectual, was that reply of the grea-: 
Jewish reformer to his insidious enemies, who sought to 
divert him and his faithful associates from the important 
enterprise in which they were engaged : “lam doing e 
great vvork, so that J cannot come down. ’ 

Similar to that of this holy man, in its nature and end, 
is the work of every servant of God—every follower of 
Christ; and similar should his language be, when solicited 
by the world, by his spiritual enemies, or by his inward 
foes, to descend from his high employment. 

That the work which is assigned us, as Christians, in 
this world, is indeed a great work, and that we have most 
powerful motives to persevere in it, through every diffi¬ 
culty and discouragement, will appear, if we consider, 
but for a moment, its nature and consequences. 

First, it is the work of personal religion. It is, by a 
cordial reconciliation to a holy God, by unfeigned repen¬ 
tance and faith in the Mediator, to work out our own sal¬ 
vation with fear and trembling—to search and try our¬ 
selves—to keep our hearts with all diligence—to watch 
and pray—to be temperate in all things—and forgetting 
past attainments in religion, to press toward the mark for 
the prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus 

Secondly, it is the work of Christian beneficence. It 
is said of the holy Redeemer, when on earth, that he 
u went about doing good.” He sojourned here only for 
this purpose. And in this respect, every follower of his 
should be like him. “ To do good, and to communi¬ 
cate,” says the apostle, “ forget not: for with such sacri¬ 
fices God is well pleased.” 

We live in a world, in %vhich there is great occasion 
for doing good, and for which the Providence of God is 
constantly furnishing opportunities And as Christians, 

S 


4 


Iriauguration Address. 


we are bound by our religion and by our profession, as 
we have opportunity, to do good unto all men, by seek¬ 
ing to promote their temporal, and their eternal happi¬ 
ness. 

lo those, with whom we are more immediately con¬ 
nected, we are under special obligations to do good, for 
&rf obvious reason ; we enjoy peculiar advantages, and 
have the most frequent and favourable opportunities. 
But when, in the Providence of God, an opportunity is 
Furnished for doing good to the remotest fellow being, it 
is no less the part of Christian benevolence to embrace 
and improve it. 

ihe ways m which we may do good to others are too 
numerous and diversified to be even mentioned in this 
address. There is, however, one, which is suggested by 
the present occasion, and which, particularly at the 
present day, demands the attention of all who love the 
Redeemer and the souls of men, on which we may for a 
few moments dwell—that of aiding in the extension of 
gospel light and blessings throughout the world 

Considering that it has always been the duty of the 
followers of Christ to seek to relieve the spiritual wants 
of the heathen, it is affecting and humiliating to reflect, 
that so little has been done for the purpose, and that so 
many millions of those for whom the Gospel w as design¬ 
ed, are still sitting in darkness, and perishing in their 
guilt. It is, at the same time, pleasing to reflect, that the 
Church of God has now an opportunitysuch as it never 
before enjoyed, to engage in this holy work, with the 
fairest prospect of success. Never before did the Provi¬ 
dence or God furnish such facilities to this work. A few 
years since, the benevolent mind, which yearned over 
the miseries of the heathen world, knew net how lo re¬ 
lieve theip. It is otherwise now. Christians now can 
as easily send the Bible and other means of salvation to 
the most distant of the human race, (or can aid in doing 
it,) as they can perform the ordinary deeds of charity. 

And in this w ork, though the appointed ambassadors 

Christ will ever be the most useful and highly favour¬ 
ed instruments, yet e\ ery friend of Jesus may and ought 
to bear a part. The w ealthy and the influential may do 
much; the more indigent and.obscure may do some- 


Inauguration Address. 5 

thing, and Hie prayers, the services, and the offerings of 
the atter, are no less acceptable and necessary than those 
of the former. The feeblest effort here has its effect 
f he moral machinery, by which the Most High accom¬ 
plishes his gracious purposes among men, is so construct* 
od, that “ the finger of a child” may put it in motion, or 
add to it an impulse, which shall never cease to be felt. 

It should then be the language of every follower of 
Christ—every partaker in his salvation, however humble 
his condition, however few the talents committed to him, 
u Lo ™> what wilt thou have me to do ? What part of the 
great work of diffusing the Gospel through the world, 
does thy providence assign to my hands ? 

All can pray for the success of this blessed enterprise, 

u hi .,!? l ° render effcctuaI aid. “ When the Lord 
*ha!! build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory: He will 
regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their 
prayer. All can recommend the Gospel of Christ, by a 
holy life and conversation. And few, if any, are wholly 
excluded from the privilege of consecrating a portion of 
their worldly substance in aid of those benevolent asso¬ 
ciations, which so remarkably characterize the present 
day. 1 

f t is by means of these associations, that individual ex¬ 
ertion and charity become a thousandfold more opera¬ 
tive, and m their extent, illimitable as the ruined world 
in which we live. 

How great is the sum of good, which, during the last 
twenty years, has been effected by means of such associ¬ 
ations, in Great Britain;—and bow large the promise ! 
How much, within the last six years, has been done by 
the combined efforts of Christians in this country : and 
how much may we hope will be done, by their continued 
and increased exertions, for the communication of Gospel 
light and blessings. 

** j 5 P ec uhar!y pleasing, at length, to see the direction 
, Christian charity, among us, so wisely and so promis- 
ingly turned towards that Ibng neglected portion of the 
heathen world—the Aborigines of this country. It is 
hoped that the means will he furnished for sending forth 
many labourers into this important field, and that the 
progress of civilization and Gospel light to the west will 



6 


Inauguration Address . 


be rapid and glorious, until Christ shall reign from shore 
to shore of this favoured land ; and until the standard of 
his Cross shall be erected with success upon the islands of 
the North, as it has been upon those of the South Pacific. 

The inquiry has long been, “ Whence came the origi¬ 
nal inhabitants of this Western world, and of the isles to 
which we have alluded ?” And much studious toil has 
been expended in the fruitless research. Happily the 
inquiry now is of a more benevolent character. The 
fact that these people exist, and that they belong to the 
lost race of Adam, is viewed with the eye of compassion, 
and the inquiry is, “ How shall they be enlightened and 
brought to participate in the common salvation ?” This 
is an inquiry which does honour to the Christian name, 
and which, by the help of the Lord, will be found, we 
trust, to be of no doubtful solution. 

Among the benevolent institutions of the present day, 
that which has recently been established in this place, is 
now permitted to hold a rank. The part which I am 
called to take, in relation to it, I am sensible is important 
and highly responsible. If I am not deceived, it is the 
desire of my heart to be useful in this sphere of duty. 
That I may be so, I would solicit the prayers of all who 
are friends to the institution, and the counsel and aid of 
its appointed guardians. And may it be our united pray¬ 
er, that this infant Seminary, which is so evidently the 
child of Providence, may be a useful auxiliary in spread¬ 
ing abroad that Gospel, which is destined shortly to en 
lighten and to regenerate all nations. 

From the few observations which have been made, 
we may see something of the magnitude of the work, in 
which as the followers of Christ, we are called to en¬ 
gage. It is a work in which the declarative glory of 
JEHOVAH is deeply concerned—which has employed 
the Divine counsels from eternity—which involves the 
highest interests of myriads of immortal beings—and 
which, in its effects and consequences, will endure when 
this earth and these heavens shall be no more, and when 
all the other works of men shall cease to be regarded. 

The considerations which show the work to be great, 
present us also with the principal motives for persevering 
ni it through every difficulty with which, in a world like. 


Inauguration Jddress, 


7 


?u ' s -' 5t may be attended. To the motives suggested bv 

uiese considerations, I would now add one other_the 

lbvme satisfaction which the work itself affords, and will 
tor ever afford, to all who are cordially engaged in it. 

How much good was St. Paul the means of effecting, 
alter Ins conversion to Christianity, and how great was 
the satisfaction which he enjoyed in the work ot preach- 
ing to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and 
which be does and will enjoy in contemplating the fruits 
ot Ins taithful ministry!—His own words will best in- 
?°rm us. “ Now thanks be unto God, winch always 
causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the 
sa\°urol his knowledge by us in every place. I am 
hlled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful, in all our tri¬ 
bulations. I or what is our hope, or joy, or crown of 
rejoicing ! Are not even ye, in the presence of our Lord 
Jesus Const, at his coming ?” 

Let me mention a humbler instance. How much good 
has been effected, and will yet be effected, by the Chris¬ 
tian labours of that pious female, who, by the blessing of 
God rescued from darkness, from wretchedness, and 
guilt, and conducted to the Saviour, an orphan child in 
India; and how happy must she have felt in the success 
ot her labours; bow divinely happy, when that child, up¬ 
on a dying bed, in the simplicity and fulness of his heart, 
said to her, “ Oh kind Mrs. Baron, who, when I was a 
pool sinful child, brought me to the knowledge of my 
dear Redeemer, anointing me with sweet ointment, (even 
Ins precious blood,) for my burial which was so soon to 
tollovv : when she said to him, “ Dear child, give the 
glory to God,” and saw him raise and join his feeble hands, 
exclaiming, “Yes, I will glorify him forever and ever* 
i will praise him, I will love him.” 

How much good have we also reason to hope and be- 
heve, has been, and will be produced, by the Christian 
kindness of those young men, who took by the hand a 
triendless lad, brought to these shores, by the Providence 
ot God, from a far distant isle, and taught him the way of 
salvation : And how happy must they and his other ben¬ 
efactors feel, in view of his late triumphant death, and in 
the consideration of his being gathered into the heavenly 
garner, as the first-fruits from a part of the heathen world * 

S 2 


8 


Inauguration Address. 


destined soon,«ve trust, to receive from this land the 
treasure of the Gospel. 

But I may not enlarge. You see the motives to benef¬ 
icent action which I would place before you. And this, 
brethren, is not a mercenary motive. It is benevolent 
holy, Godlike. The nature of the good, and of the hap¬ 
piness, of which we have been speaking, is such as only 
the benevolent mind can appreciate, or enjoy. It is the 
good, the happiness, which the Psalmist desired when he 
prayed, “ Remember me, O Lord, with the favour which 
thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salva¬ 
tion; that I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may 
rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory 
with thine inheritance.” And that this motive may prop¬ 
erly be urged upon the-followers of Christ, appears from 
the words of the apostle, with which we close. “ There¬ 
fore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, 
always abounding in the work of the Lord: forasmuch 
as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 
And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season 
we shall reap, if we faint not.” 


THE 


INAUGURAL ADDRESS, 

BY THE 

HON. JOHN TREADWELL, ESQ. 


REV. AND RESPECTED SIR, 

It is a fact much to be deplored, that the Christian 
church has for ages been, to a great degree, unmindful of 
the express command of the risen Saviour, addressed im¬ 
mediately to the eleven disciples, but equally binding on 
all his ministei ing servants to the end of the world, and 
virtually on all his followers, u Go ye into all the world, 
and preach the Gospel to every creature.” The apostles 
of our Lord, and their successors in the ministry during 
the early centuries of the Christian era, felt the obliga¬ 
tion of this command, indeed, and accordingly they pro¬ 
claimed the Gospel through a great part of the Roman 
empire, and, by the blessing of God on their labors, they 
planted many renowned churches within its limits, and 
prevailed, antil the empire itself became professedly 
Christian. Since that happy period, during the process 
of the dark ages which followed, the Romanists continu¬ 
ed their efforts to proselyte the Pagan world with various 
success ; but they propagated a perverted Gospel, and 
preached Christ rather of contention than of good will. 
And since the reformation from Popery, the Protestant 
churches have been so occupied, in repelling the machi¬ 
nations of Rome, and in bitter contentions among them¬ 
selves, that little has been effected in spreading the true 
Gospel among the Heathen. 

The truth is, that sloth and unbelief have ever been 
ready to urge, as an objection against engaging in this 
great and good work, “The lime is not yet come to build 
the temple of the Lordbut the successful labors of a 


o 


Inavgurai Address. 

few eminent servants of Christ, in particular sections of 
the great field of missions, have amply refuted this objec¬ 
tion, and^ have left the Christian world without excuse 
for their inattention to the eternal interests of countless 
millions of the human race, who, from age to age, have 
been literally perishing for lack of vision : for, in the 
words of the inspired Apostle, how can they believe in 
him of whom they have not heard? and how can they 
hear without a preacher? and how can they preach ex¬ 
cept they be sent ? 

x\t length, through the tender mercies of our God, the 
dav-spnng from on high hath visited us. An extensive 
and general attention to this vital interest, has been ex- 
cited on both sides of the Atlantic. This attention, tho' 
flight when compared with the immensity of the object, 
is nevertheless great and animating when compared with 
all that is gone before it since the commencement of the 
dark ages, and, indeed, even of Christianity itself. 

The revolution which in these late years has taken 
place in the Christian world, respecting this all-important 
concern, is truly wonderful; and can be ascribed to 
nothing short of a speci*! Divine impulse on the minds 
ot men : indeed, when God is about soon to accomplish 
any work of mercy or of judgment, in behalf of hi-: 
church, he ordinarily raises up instruments, and qualifies 
lliem tor the work, and so disposes events, in the natural 
and moral world, as to bring it to pass, as it pre-existed 
in the Divine purpose. 

The sure word of prophecy, as it has been understood 
by the current of interpreters, and as it has been illustra¬ 
ted by recent events, lias raised a general expectation 
among the Protestant Christians, that the millenial age is 
near at hand, if not already commenced, when the Hea¬ 
then shall be given to Christ for an inheritance, and the 
uttermost parts of the earth for his possession : and shews 
that God is, in these events, now addressing his church, 
in the sublime and animating language of the evangelical 
prophet, “Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the 
glory ot the Lord is risen upon thee ; for the Gentiles 
shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thv 
rising. ° 


Inaugural Address . 


o 

The spirit of a Mayhew, of an Elliot, and of a Brainerd, 
is transfused into many oi the faithful servants and min¬ 
isters ot Christ, who, trom day to day, are coming to the 
help of the Spiritual David, until they have become a 
great host like the host of God. 

For the support and encouragement of these and their 
successors, kings are becoming their nursing fathers, and 
queens their nursing mothers: and numerous Missionary 
and Bible Societies, in Great Britain, in Russia, in most 
other European kingdoms, in the United States, and even 
in Asia and Africa, of high respectability, have formed, 
and are constantly forming, and by various associations 
auxiliary to them, are rapidly diffusing their benign and 
sacred influence, through a mass of population, embrac¬ 
ing all orders and descriptions of men, high and low, rich 
and poor, old and young, male and female. 

Thus organized, and clad in the Christian armor, this 
sacred band, feeble in itself, and unequal to the combat, 
but strong in the Lord and in the power of his might, go 
forth to mortal warfare against the whole strength of 
Satan’s kingdom, fortified as it has been for ages, by all 
his power and subtlety, to which full scope seems to have 
been permitted by the will of Heaven, as if to render the 
victory over him, in the end, the more complete and 
glorious, and thus to give an illustrious specimen of the 
truth of the declaration of the Psalmist, « Out of the 
mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength, 
because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the en¬ 
emy and the avenger.” ' 

It is true, indeed, that to an eye of sense, victory in 
lavor of such combatants, and over such an enemy, is 
impossible ; but to the eye of faith it is not only possible, 
but is anticipated to be certain and final. The followers 
of the Lamb know, that they go forth in this warfare un¬ 
der the banner of him to whom all power in heaven and 
earth is committed, and who must reign until he has 
subdued all his enemies under his feet; they can there¬ 
fore securely bid defiance to whatever shall assume the 
shape of difficulty or of danger in their w r ay, in the bold 
and decisive language of the Prophet, “ Who art thou, 

O great mountain, before Zerubbabel thou shalt become 
a plain,” 


4 


Inaugural Address. 


Among the societies to which I have referred, the 
London Missionary Society, the British and Foreign Bi- 
^ ie Russian Bible Society, and the American 
Bible Society, and the American Board of Commission¬ 
ers for Foreign Missions, not to mention others of great 
merit and celebrity, bear a conspicuous part. 

Ot this last mentioned society, which was incorpora¬ 
ted in June, 1812, by an act of the Legislature of the 
commonwealth of Massachusetts, with ample powers, 
the school lately established in this town, by the name of 
the Foreign Mission School, is an honourable and high¬ 
ly favoured appendage. 

This school was instituted, as evidently appeared to 
the attentive Christian mind, in obedience to the man; 
fest leadings of Providence ; it has commenced its ope¬ 
rations under favourable auspices ; and it has hitherto 
been fostered by the liberality of the Christian public, 
beyond the expectation of its most zealous friends and 
patrons 

The great object of the Foreign Mission School is, tc 
ftflord a hospitable asylum for such unevangelized youth 
ot good promise as are, or shall be, providentially brought 
to our shores, and cast upon us : or, as shall be found 
within our limits; and to furnish them with such in¬ 
struction in the English tongue, as shall qualify them to 
read and understand the Sacred Scriptures in that lan 
guage, find to consult with profit such English writers on 
theological and other subjects, as in the course of their 
studies, shall be prescribed them,—also, in the elements 
oi general science—-in the principles and practice of mo- 
deni agriculture—in the more common and useful arts o! 
civilized life—and, when circumstances shall lead the 
way, and shew their utility, in physic and surgery—also 
in the learned languages, such especially, as bid fair to 
uecome preachers of the Gospel, or translators of the 
barred Volume ; keeping up, at the same time, as far as 
needful, sticji a course of exercises, as shall be calculated 
to preserve entire the knowledge of their own tongue, 
and to enable them to express it in alphabetical writing : 
all with a view> by the blessing of God on the mean, 
ns,ed ? to bring them to the saving knowledge of Jesu- 


* J'i wt , that so, when they shall return to their own land, 
they maybe qualified and disposed to instruct their be¬ 
nighted countrymen in those things which are essential 
! n ev f*7 c,v J h f ed community ; but above all, in the 
r h ''°" le<J ? e , of f the . one onI y living and true God, and of 
he one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ 
desus, and, by the help of God, effectually to persuade 
t.jer j to give up their idols to the moles and to the bats, 
as a reproach to their Maker, debasing to their rational 
natures, and ruinous to their immortal souls. The ad¬ 
vantages for a Christian education, among Christians 
TnfV' State ? ^'istjan ministry, and in such a 
^ 1 nbepmphetsas tins js designed to be, cannot 

lad o being rar supenour to any that may be exoected 
in schools established in unevangelized countries, to¬ 
wards attaining the great object in view, besides those, 
not to be forgotten m the estimate, which may be ex- 
jiected to result from a system of better economy. 

Of this sc.iool, Rev. Sir, you have for some months 
past stood duly elected Principal; but previous engage¬ 
ments have hitherto prevented your entering on the dis- 
charge ot the> trust: meanwhile, the burdens and dup¬ 
lies ot the office have been devolved on Mr. Edwin W. 
Dwight, who has hitherto presided with reputation and 
success. { 

1 he.time is now arrived for your induction into office • 
and, unskilled as I am in the ceremonial, the duty of im- 
ducting you is devolved on me. i do, therefore, in the 
name and benalfofthe agents of this institution, by the. 
delivery of these keys to your care and keeping, winch 
you will view as the symbol of office, thus publicly in¬ 
duct you into the office of Principal of the Foreign Mis¬ 
sion School here established; and do announce you to 
oe invested with all the powers, prerogatives, privileges 
and emoluments, thererto belonging. Enter into, a^nd 
. e charge of, the buildings appertaining to the institu¬ 
tion, aim see that they are safely kept, aud employed in 
then proper uses, so far as depends on your agency.-— 
la.ve and keep possession of the archives, books*and pa¬ 
pers o; the establishment, subject to such orders and re¬ 
gulations may be made by proper authtfritv, Preside 


6 inaugural Jddrea^* 

in the government and instruction of the Foreign Mission 
School, according to its constitution and laws. Make it 
your great, your only object, to train the youth commit¬ 
ted to your charge, for distinguished usefulness among 
their countrymen, in some department of missionary 
service, adapted to the talents, gifts and grace, with 
which they may be endowed, and when practicable, tor 
the work of the holy ministry. 

Sensible as you must be, of the inefficacy of all means 
and instruments which may be employed in the great 
work of evangelizing the nations, which have hitherto 
remained without God and without hope in the world, 
without the divine blessing, you will not cease O man of 
God, to add your prayers to those of the Christian com¬ 
munity, which may be made acquainted with the object 
of this establishment, for such special operations of the 
Holy Spirit, as may be necessary to give effect to your 
labours. 

If to preach the Gospel be a most honourable employ¬ 
ment, and to preach it where Christ is not known be 
pre-eminently so, can the labour of fitting multitudes for 
the apostleship of Jews, Mahometans and Pagans, which 
is indispensable to the existence of those functionaries, be 
considered as either less honourable, or important ? Be 
this as it may, we doubt not you will be always disposed 
to magnify your office : and to devote what remains of 
life, as you have opportunity, to the promotion of that 
cause, for which Christ was born, lived, died, arose, and 
ascended ; that, so, when your work and warfare is fin¬ 
ished, you may receive a crown of righteousness, which 
God the righteous judge shall give you at that day, and 
not to you only, but to all those also that love his appear ¬ 
ing and kingdom. 



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